Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #18194
 
Just Like That, 60% Say USA Winning War on Terror, Up from 41% Before Capture of Bin Laden:

A majority of Americans say the USA is winning the war on terror, in 9 separately but simultaneously conducted SurveyUSA polls -- 1 nationwide and 8 regional - fielded 05/02/2011 after the death of Osama bin Laden was announced. 60% of Americans nationwide today say the USA is winning the war on terror, compared to 18% who say the terrorists are winning. When SurveyUSA asked the identical question nationwide in August 2006, 41% said the USA was winning, 45% said the terrorists were winning.

Americans 2:1 agree with the decision to bury Bin Laden's body at sea. An overwhelming majority sees Al Qaeda as still a threat.

Long-term, a plurality of Americans think the death of Bin Laden will make the world a safer place, but this was short of a majority in all 9 of the geographies polled. In the immediate short-term, a plurality thinks the death will make no difference as to whether the world is more dangerous, or safer.

SurveyUSA has asked the question "Who is winning the war on terror" continuously over the past decade. The highest percentage saying the USA is winning the war was 63%, recorded in greater Tulsa, Oklahoma 09/02/04. The lowest percentage saying the USA is winning the war was 28% in New York State, 01/30/06, and 29%, in greater San Francisco, 07/07/05 and again on 09/08/06.

 
This nationwide survey includes cell-phone and landline respondents. SurveyUSA interviewed 1,000 adults nationwide 05/02/11. 23% of respondents use cell phones to make most or all of their phone calls. 77% were interviewed on their home phones using recorded voice. Regional polls of 500 adults each were separately but simultaneously conducted in greater New York City, greater Los Angeles, greater San Francisco, Washington state, greater Tampa Bay, greater San Diego, greater Fresno, and greater Wichita. A total of 5,000 interviews were completed in the 9 separate pieces of research.
 
Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as President?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Approve46%43%50%47%44%52%42%46%48%39%80%52%59%15%77%41%24%52%67%49%**36%50%45%41%51%51%52%40%41%47%43%48%50%46%44%47%
Disapprove42%49%36%35%44%44%52%39%48%49%15%38%26%77%14%42%69%33%22%42%**46%36%42%46%41%34%35%47%53%48%32%46%39%40%45%44%
Not Sure11%8%14%18%13%4%6%15%5%12%4%10%15%8%9%16%8%15%11%10%**18%14%13%13%8%15%13%13%6%5%26%7%11%14%11%9%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
Who is winning the war on terror? The United States? Or the terrorists?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
United States60%63%56%49%62%69%63%55%67%59%73%55%59%61%66%53%59%60%60%65%**44%67%59%53%65%54%62%55%66%69%39%66%63%58%59%60%
Terrorists18%20%16%13%18%19%26%16%22%19%14%17%14%21%13%20%22%16%15%14%**29%22%18%19%17%17%16%18%20%19%9%21%15%16%21%18%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
3All things considered, has the war in Iraq been worth fighting? Or not?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Worth Fighting36%40%32%31%40%39%35%35%37%36%30%38%34%56%24%32%52%29%25%38%**28%40%35%34%37%31%28%43%44%40%24%39%36%35%35%38%
Not Worth Fighting46%46%45%47%39%49%49%43%49%46%54%34%43%26%57%49%30%50%60%45%**45%42%46%44%47%47%51%39%41%48%45%46%44%48%45%45%
Not Sure19%14%23%22%21%13%16%22%14%17%16%28%22%18%19%18%18%21%15%18%**27%18%18%22%16%22%21%19%15%11%31%15%20%17%20%17%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
4All things considered, has the war in Afghanistan been worth fighting? Or not?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Worth Fighting45%52%39%40%49%52%39%44%46%45%47%43%48%55%43%40%53%43%39%49%**33%40%42%41%51%36%39%50%56%59%31%49%47%42%45%46%
Not Worth Fighting37%36%37%38%32%34%45%35%39%38%37%30%31%28%39%42%30%36%45%34%**44%36%40%38%33%40%41%34%31%31%37%36%34%41%36%36%
Not Sure18%12%24%22%18%14%15%20%15%17%16%27%20%17%18%18%17%21%16%17%**24%24%18%21%15%24%20%16%13%10%31%14%19%17%18%18%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
5Was the decision by the United States to bury Osama bin Laden at sea the right decision? Or the wrong decision?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Right56%60%52%44%57%65%64%50%65%57%56%56%41%58%60%49%59%55%56%63%**28%53%50%49%66%48%50%56%70%71%36%62%55%60%52%59%
Wrong25%26%25%29%27%21%22%28%21%25%25%28%29%27%21%28%25%24%25%19%**48%23%30%30%19%28%28%26%19%19%28%24%29%22%26%25%
Not Sure19%14%23%27%17%14%14%22%14%18%19%17%31%15%19%22%16%21%19%18%**24%25%20%22%15%24%22%18%12%10%36%14%16%18%22%16%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
6In the immediate short-term, will the death of Osama bin Laden make the world be a more dangerous place? A safer place? Or will it make no difference?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
More Dangerous25%24%27%22%26%30%26%24%28%26%21%25%26%32%21%23%27%25%22%24%**29%32%26%26%24%25%28%24%19%30%21%27%27%27%24%24%
Safer Place32%34%30%32%35%32%27%33%30%30%40%38%30%33%35%29%32%31%34%36%**17%31%34%28%34%29%28%40%39%31%31%32%28%30%32%36%
No Difference34%35%34%30%31%36%45%30%40%35%33%29%31%29%36%36%33%35%34%32%**44%30%31%35%36%33%35%30%36%36%25%37%36%35%34%32%
Not Sure8%7%10%16%8%2%2%12%2%8%6%9%13%6%7%12%8%10%10%8%**10%6%9%11%6%13%10%7%6%3%23%4%8%8%9%8%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
7Long-term, will the death of Osama bin Laden, result in the world becoming a more dangerous place? A safer place? Or will it make no difference?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
More Dangerous12%10%13%13%9%12%15%11%13%10%18%15%13%13%11%12%10%10%13%10%**18%20%17%10%9%18%13%8%8%6%9%13%10%12%13%11%
Safer Place48%53%42%40%55%53%43%47%48%48%49%43%42%54%48%44%51%49%44%53%**25%44%41%45%54%39%45%53%56%57%40%50%48%46%46%52%
No Difference32%30%34%31%28%33%39%30%36%33%24%32%38%26%33%34%32%33%30%29%**47%28%31%34%31%29%32%32%31%34%27%34%34%33%31%31%
Not Sure8%6%11%16%9%2%3%12%2%8%9%10%8%7%8%10%7%8%13%8%**11%7%10%11%6%13%11%7%5%3%23%4%7%8%11%6%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
8Is Al-Qaeda still a threat to America? Or no longer a threat?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 2.2 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Still a Threat86%88%85%79%89%92%88%84%90%88%79%84%81%93%84%84%90%85%84%88%**78%69%87%85%89%77%88%87%94%95%80%88%84%86%87%87%
No Longer a Threat5%5%4%6%4%4%4%5%4%4%11%1%4%3%6%4%4%5%5%4%**6%12%4%5%3%6%4%6%2%3%3%5%5%5%5%3%
Not Sure9%7%11%15%7%4%8%11%6%8%10%15%15%4%10%12%6%10%11%8%**16%19%9%10%7%17%9%8%4%2%17%7%11%9%8%10%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
9Is it appropriate to celebrate the death of Bin Laden? Or is it insensitive?
1000 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyBin LadenEducationIncomeCell Phone / LanRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicAsian / RepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberalDeadAliveDon't KnNo HSHS GradSome ColCollege <25K25-50K50-75K75-100K>100KCell PhoLandlineNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Appropriate62%66%58%55%67%65%61%61%64%64%52%59%59%71%58%59%69%59%58%66%**46%50%60%64%64%56%60%64%70%72%54%64%61%60%62%65%
Insensitive22%22%21%25%18%24%19%22%22%21%34%15%18%16%26%23%17%23%25%20%**28%27%23%19%22%25%20%22%17%20%22%22%21%25%21%20%
Not Sure16%12%20%21%14%10%20%18%15%15%14%26%23%13%17%18%13%17%17%14%**26%23%17%17%14%19%20%14%14%7%24%14%18%15%17%16%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%48%52%32%29%22%17%61%39%72%11%11%6%29%35%34%33%37%23%80%4%15%5%23%31%40%26%26%17%12%14%23%77%19%23%36%22%
 
** Too few respondents of this type were interviewed for this data to be meaningful.