August 3, 2015 - American Voters Oppose Iran Deal 2-1, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Pope's Climate Change Message Gets Huge Support PDF format Sample and Methodology detail American voters oppose 57 - 28 percent, with only lukewarm support from Democrats and overwhelming opposition for Republicans and independent voters, the nuclear pact negotiated with Iran, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Voters say 58 - 30 percent the nuclear pact will make the world less safe, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Opposing the Iran deal are Republicans 86 - 3 percent and independent voters 55 - 29 percent, while Democrats support it 52 - 32 percent. There is little gender gap as men oppose the deal 59 - 30 percent and women oppose it 56 - 27 percent. American voters agree 65 - 27 percent with Pope Francis' call for action to address climate change. Support is 84 - 9 percent among Democrats and 67 - 27 percent among independent voters. Republicans disagree with the Pope 48 - 40 percent. Men agree with the Pope 62 - 32 percent and women agree 68 - 22 percent. Climate change is not a moral issue, voters say 49 - 44 percent, but it is caused by human activity voters say 68 - 27 percent. Again, there are partisan divides as Republicans say 77 - 18 percent that climate change is not a moral issue. Republicans are divided 46 - 46 percent on whether climate change is caused by human activity. "There's not a lot of love for the proposed nuclear deal with Iran. Only a bare majority of Democrats support the pact," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Pope Francis is doing much better with his call for action on climate change. Voters say the Pope got it right: Climate change is a problem. And it's our fault. But does humanity's damage to mother earth have its roots in moral failure? On that claim by the Pope, it's a nope." Illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the U.S. and apply for citizenship, 55 percent of American voters say. Another 9 percent say immigrants should be allowed to stay, but not seek citizenship, and 32 percent say immigrants should be required to leave the U.S. While 76 percent of Democrats say illegal immigrants should stay and seek citizenship, 49 percent of Republicans say they should be required to leave. Same-Sex Marriage American voters support 53 - 40 percent allowing same-sex couples to marry and support 53 - 44 percent the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Voters oppose 56 - 39 percent a constitutional amendment allowing states to ban same sex marriage. Businesses should not be allowed to refuse service to gays and lesbians, U.S. voters say 65 - 30 percent. Even when a business owner cites religious beliefs, he/she should not be allowed to refuse service, voters say 52 - 42 percent. American voters disapprove 52 - 43 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, compared to a 50 - 43 percent disapproval in a Jun 1 Quinnipiac University poll. Republicans and Democrats in Congress each get one of their worst approval ratings ever as voters disapprove 75 - 17 percent of the job Republicans are doing and disapprove 63 - 29 percent of the job Democrats are doing. "These ratings for Republicans and Democrats in Congress have to sting even the thick skins of Capitol Hill," Malloy said. "It's like having a single-digit batting average and booting every ground ball that comes your way. "Team Congress could well be on the trading block." From July 23 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,644 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll. 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 43% 4% 82% 39% 37% 48% Disapprove 52 94 14 54 57 47 DK/NA 5 2 4 6 5 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (* High also 59% Mar 2009) APPROVE....... High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 Mar 04 Nov 25 Jun 04 Dec 10 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 2009* 2013 Approve 43 43 44 41 39 59 38 Disapprove 52 50 49 52 54 31 57 DK/NA 5 7 7 7 8 10 6 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 17% 35% 8% 14% 17% 16% Disapprove 75 56 88 78 78 73 DK/NA 8 9 4 8 5 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? (* High also 34% Mar 3 2011, Mar 2010, ** Low also 17% Jun 2015, Jan 2014, Oct 2013) APPROVE....... High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 Mar 04 Nov 26 Mar 31 Aug 03 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 2011* 2015** Approve 17 17 22 22 23 34 17 Disapprove 75 73 69 69 69 55 75 DK/NA 8 10 9 9 8 11 8 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 29% 7% 63% 22% 25% 33% Disapprove 63 90 32 69 69 58 DK/NA 7 3 5 9 6 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? (* Low also 24% Nov 2011, Oct 2011, Sep 2011) APPROVE....... High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 Mar 04 Nov 26 Mar 04 Nov 26 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 2009 2014* Approve 29 30 30 28 24 45 24 Disapprove 63 61 61 62 67 45 67 DK/NA 7 9 9 10 9 10 9 10. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 2% 1% 3% 2% 3% 2% Smwht satisfied 25 7 48 20 23 26 Smwht dissatisfied 31 23 35 34 32 30 Very dissatisfied 42 68 13 44 42 42 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 Mar 04 Nov 25 Dec 11 Nov 13 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 2001 2008 Very satisfied 2 2 2 2 2 21 2 Smwht satisfied 25 26 28 29 23 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 31 32 32 33 32 19 38 Very dissatisfied 42 39 37 35 42 10 44 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 44. Who do you trust more to make decisions that are good for the country, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Obama 43% 2% 85% 39% 38% 48% Reps in Congress 45 92 7 44 49 40 DK/NA 13 6 7 17 13 12 TREND: Who do you trust more to make decisions that are good for the country, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 Mar 04 Nov 25 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 Obama 43 45 45 42 42 Reps in Congress 45 43 43 47 47 DK/NA 13 12 13 11 12 45. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 44% 8% 79% 44% 40% 48% Disapprove 53 91 19 53 58 49 DK/NA 3 1 2 4 2 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? (* Low also 32% Sep 2011) APPROVE....... High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 Mar 04 Jul 02 Mar 04 Oct 06 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 2009 2011* Approve 44 46 45 44 40 57 32 Disapprove 53 50 50 50 55 33 64 DK/NA 3 4 5 6 4 10 4 46. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 39% 4% 77% 36% 35% 43% Disapprove 55 94 17 58 61 50 DK/NA 5 3 6 5 4 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 Mar 04 Jul 02 Apr 29 Mar 04 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 2009 2015 Approve 39 38 39 35 37 57 35 Disapprove 55 56 53 55 57 32 55 DK/NA 5 6 8 10 6 11 10 47. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Iran? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 35% 3% 67% 34% 32% 38% Disapprove 56 93 23 55 61 51 DK/NA 9 4 10 10 7 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Iran? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 03 Apr 27 Jan 22 Dec 10 Oct 01 Oct 01 Aug 03 2015 2015 2014 2013 2013 2013 2015 Approve 35 37 39 40 48 48 35 Disapprove 56 52 47 48 40 40 56 DK/NA 9 10 14 12 12 12 9 67. Do you support or oppose the nuclear deal with Iran? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 28% 3% 52% 29% 30% 27% Oppose 57 86 32 55 58 56 DK/NA 15 11 16 16 13 17 68. Do you think the nuclear deal with Iran would make the world safer or less safe? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Safer 30% 4% 54% 30% 30% 29% Less safe 58 87 32 58 59 56 DK/NA 12 9 14 12 10 15 69. Do you think the federal government should or should not pursue policies that try to reduce the gap between wealthy and less well-off Americans? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Should 61% 35% 88% 59% 58% 63% Should not 32 57 7 34 36 28 DK/NA 7 8 6 6 6 9 70. Do you support or oppose increasing taxes on higher income earners to reduce the amount of taxes paid by the middle class? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 60% 31% 86% 59% 54% 65% Oppose 36 65 12 36 42 32 DK/NA 4 4 1 5 4 4 TREND: Do you support or oppose increasing taxes on higher income earners to reduce the amount of taxes paid by the middle class? Aug 03 Mar 04 2015 2015 Support 60 58 Oppose 36 35 DK/NA 4 6 71. Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to get married? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 53% 26% 70% 59% 49% 57% Oppose 40 67 26 32 41 38 DK/NA 7 7 4 9 9 5 TREND: Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to get married? Aug 03 Jun 01 Apr 27 2015 2015 2015 Support 53 56 58 Oppose 40 36 34 DK/NA 7 8 8 72. As you may know, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages should be legal in all fifty states. Do you support or oppose this ruling? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 53% 23% 73% 57% 49% 56% Oppose 44 74 25 38 47 41 DK/NA 3 3 2 4 4 3 73. Would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would allow states to ban same-sex marriage? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 39% 63% 24% 32% 41% 36% Oppose 56 30 73 63 54 58 DK/NA 5 6 3 5 5 5 74. Do you think businesses should or should not be allowed to refuse service to gays and lesbians? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Should be allowed 30% 49% 15% 29% 32% 28% Should not 65 44 84 68 63 67 DK/NA 5 7 2 4 4 5 TREND: Do you think businesses should or should not be allowed to refuse service to gays and lesbians? Aug 03 Apr 27 2015 2015 Should be allowed 30 26 Should not 65 69 DK/NA 5 5 75. What if the business says homosexuality violates its owners' religious beliefs; in that case do you think the business should or should not be allowed to refuse service to gays and lesbians? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Should be allowed 42% 66% 21% 42% 44% 40% Should not 52 27 75 53 51 53 DK/NA 5 7 4 4 5 6 TREND: What if the business says homosexuality violates its owners' religious beliefs; in that case do you think the business should or should not be allowed to refuse service to gays and lesbians? Aug 03 Apr 27 2015 2015 Should be allowed 42 35 Should not 52 58 DK/NA 5 7 76. Do you support or oppose the health care law passed by Barack Obama and Congress in 2010? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 43% 6% 77% 42% 40% 46% Oppose 52 89 18 54 56 48 DK/NA 5 5 6 4 4 6 TREND: Do you support or oppose the health care law passed by Barack Obama and Congress in 2010? SUPPORT....... High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Nov 25 Jul 02 Apr 02 Oct 01 Jan 22 2015 2015 2014 2014 2014 2013 2014 Support 43 43 40 43 41 45 38 Oppose 52 51 54 55 55 47 56 DK/NA 5 6 6 2 5 8 7 77. Do you think Congress should try to repeal the health care law, or should they let it stand? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Should repeal it 48% 86% 16% 46% 50% 46% Should let it stand 47 8 80 49 46 48 DK/NA 5 6 4 5 4 6 TREND: Do you think Congress should try to repeal the health care law, or should they let it stand? SHOULD REPEAL High Low Aug 03 Jun 01 Nov 25 Jul 12 Apr 20 Feb 23 May 04 2015 2015 2014 2012 2012 2012 2011 Should repeal it 48 46 48 49 51 52 44 Should let it stand 47 48 46 43 38 39 45 DK/NA 5 6 6 8 11 10 11 78. Do you think that climate change is or is not - a moral issue? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Moral issue 44% 18% 64% 48% 39% 49% No 49 77 29 48 55 44 DK/NA 6 6 7 4 6 7 79. Do you think that climate change is or is not - caused by human activity? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Human activity 68% 46% 84% 71% 63% 71% No 27 46 12 25 32 22 DK/NA 6 9 4 4 5 7 80. Do you agree or disagree with the message from Pope Francis calling on the world to do more to address climate change? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 65% 40% 84% 67% 62% 68% Disagree 27 48 9 27 32 22 DK/NA 8 12 7 6 6 10 81. Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are currently living in the United States? A) They should be allowed to stay in the United States and to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. B) They should be allowed to remain in the United States, but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship. C) They should be required to leave the U.S. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A) Stay/Citizenship 55% 34% 76% 54% 53% 57% B) Stay/Not citizen 9 11 7 10 11 7 C) Not stay 32 49 16 32 32 31 DK/NA 4 6 2 4 4 4 TREND: Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are currently living in the United States? A) They should be allowed to stay in the United States and to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. B) They should be allowed to remain in the United States, but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship. C) They should be required to leave the U.S. STAY/CITIZENSHIP High Low Aug 03 Nov 25 Nov 13 Jul 12 May 31 Apr 04 Nov 25 2015 2014 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 A)Stay/Citizenship 55 48 57 54 54 59 48 B)Stay/Not citizen 9 11 12 12 12 11 11 C)Not stay 32 35 26 28 29 25 35 DK/NA 4 6 4 6 5 5 6