CBS News Survey on Afghanistan, Terrorist Trials, Fort Hood, Health Care & the Economy

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

• Approve 53% (56%)
• Disapprove 36% (34%)

Among Independents

• Approve 45% (52%)
• Disapprove 40% (35%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?

• Approve 50% (48%)
• Disapprove 36% (28%)

Among Independents

• Approve 49% (45%)
• Disapprove 38% (24%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation with Afghanistan?

• Approve 38% (42%)
• Disapprove 43% (34%)

Among Independents

• Approve 30% (44%)
• Disapprove 49% (36%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

• Approve 49% (54%)
• Disapprove 43% (38%)

Among Independents

• Approve 40% (47%)
• Disapprove 48% (41%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care?

• Approve 44% (47%)
• Disapprove 48% (42%)

Among Independents

• Approve 38% (44%)
• Disapprove 50% (43%)

From what you know so far, which comes closest to your own view? 1. The economic stimulus package has already created a substantial number of new jobs in the U.S. OR 2. It will create a substantial number of new jobs but hasn’t done that yet OR 3. It will not create a substantial number of new jobs?

• Has already created jobs 7% [7%]
• Will, but hasn’t yet 46% [52%]
• Will not create jobs 42% [38%]

Among Independents

• Has already created jobs 5% [6%]
• Will, but hasn’t yet 42% [49%]
• Will not create jobs 47% [41%]

As you may know, for the past eight years the United States has been holding a number of suspected terrorists at a U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Based on what you have heard or read, do you think the U.S. should continue to operate the prison, or do you think the U.S. should close the prison and transfer the prisoners somewhere else?

• Continue to operate 50% {40%}
• Close it 39% {48%}

Among Independents

• Continue to operate 51% {30%}
• Close it 35% {60%}

When it comes to dealing with people suspected of involvement in terrorist attacks against the United States, which would you prefer: 1) Trying them in open criminal court with a jury, and a civilian judge, OR 2) Trying them in a closed military court with a military judge?

• Military Court 54%
• Criminal Court 40%

Among Independents

• Military Court 60%
• Criminal Court 34%

Do you think the U.S. military had information that could have prevented the shootings that occurred at the Army base in Fort Hood, Texas or not?

• Could have been prevented 51%
• Couldn’t have been prevented 29%

Among Independents

• Could have been prevented 54%
• Couldn’t have been prevented 25%

From what you have heard or read, do you consider the shooting incident at Fort Hood, Texas to be an act of terrorism or not?

• Act of terrorism 48%
• Not terrorism 38%

Among Independents

• Act of terrorism 46%
• Not terrorism 38%

From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Afghanistan, what should the United States do now–should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, keep the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan as they are now, or decrease the numbers of troops in Afghanistan?

• Increase 32% (37%)
• Keep the same 20% (17%)
• Decrease 39% (38%)

Among Independents

• Increase 34% (34%)
• Keep the same 18% (16%)
• Decrease 40% (39%)

As you may know, the Obama Administration is considering sending additional troops to Afghanistan. From what you have heard or read, do you think a troop increase would make the situation in Afghanistan better, make it worse, or would it have no impact on the situation in Afghanistan?

• Make it better 36%
• Make it worse 22%
• No impact 31%

Among Independents

• Make it better 37%
• Make it worse 21%
• No impact 31%

Survey of 1,167 adults was conducted November 13-16. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted October 5-8 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted September 19-23 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted June 12-16 are in curly brackets. Party ID breakdown: 37% Democrat; 24% Republican; 39% Independent.