Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #18318

Geography Surveyed: California
Data Collected: 06/22/2011
Release Date: 06/22/2011 9:25 PM ET
Sponsors: KABC-TV Los Angeles, KFSN-TV Fresno, KGTV-TV San Diego, KPIX-TV San Francisco

Tough Sell on Afghanistan: Both Those who Watched Obama Primetime Speech & Those Who Did Not Say War Not Worth Fighting:

President Obama may have comforted a few voters in a primetime televised speech on Afghanistan, but both those who watched the speech and those who did not are wary, according to SurveyUSA's first post-speech reaction poll, conducted in the state of CA.

* A majority both of those who watched the speech and those who did not watch the speech say the war in Afghanistan has not been worth fighting. Those who watched the speech are Plus 7 on Obama's handling of Afghanistan, compared to Minus 3 among those who did not watch the speech.

* Of those who watched, a plurality say the President's timeline for troop withdrawal is "just right." Of those who did not watch, a plurality say Obama's timeline is "not fast enough." 43% of Republicans and 46% of Conservatives say the President is withdrawing troops "too fast."

* Among those who watched the speech, 18% say America will soon emerge a winner in Afghanistan, but 47% say there will never be a clear winner. By contrast, of those who did not watch, 10% say America will emerge the victor, but 58% say there will never be a clear winner.

Of the 1,000 state of CA adults interviewed 06/22/11, 388 (39%) watched the speech. Speech watchers were: 37% Republican, 46% Democrat, 33% Independent.


1
  Asked of 1000 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 3.2 percentage points.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan?

44% Approve
43% Disapprove
13% Not Sure

2
  Asked of 1000 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 3.2 percentage points.

Which of these 4 statements best describes the situation in Afghanistan: America will emerge soon as the clear winner. The Taliban will emerge soon as the clear winner. It will be years until we know who won. There will never be a clear winner.

14% America Will Win
3% Taliban Will Win
29% Years Until We Know
53% Never Be a Clear Winner
1% Not Sure

3
  Asked of 1000 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 2.8 percentage points.

During the next 18 months, should the United States ... send more troops to Afghanistan? ... Bring troops home from Afghanistan? Or leave the Afghanistan troops in place?

6% Send More Troops
72% Bring Troops Home
19% Leave The Troops In Place
3% Not Sure

4
  Asked of 1000 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 3.2 percentage points.

President Obama plans to bring 10,000 soldiers home from Afghanistan by the end of 2011 ... and an additional 23,000 soldiers home by the end of summer 2012. Is the president withdrawing troops ... too fast? Not fast enough? Or is the president's timetable just right?

23% Too Fast
34% Not Fast Enough
39% Timetable Is Just Right
5% Not Sure

5
  Asked of 1000 Adults
  Credibility Interval for this question = ± 3.2 percentage points.

All things considered, has the war in Afghanistan been worth fighting? Or not?

35% Worth Fighting
54% Not Worth Fighting
11% Not Sure

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