Bush Approval Rating, Sentiments on Iraq, Education, Steroid Testing, and Terri Schiavo Among Poll Results

FAIRFIELD, Conn.— According to a national poll by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute, a majority of Americans surveyed, 59.5%, suggest that Congressman Tom DeLay should resign from his position as House Majority Leader.

"The poll numbers regarding Congressman DeLay have serious political consequences for Republicans in the forthcoming 2006 congressional elections, and suggest that pressure for resignation will most likely be forthcoming from fellow Republican Congressmen who see DeLay as a serious political liability," stated Dr. Gary L. Rose, professor and chair of Sacred Heart University's Department of History and Political Science.

The Poll surveyed Americans nationwide on a variety of subjects, from the President's approval rating and the current direction of events in Iraq to education, the “No Child Left Behind” act, steroid testing among high school athletes and Terri Schiavo.

Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Nearly half of those surveyed, 46.5%, indicated they are following the U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ethics issues. Another 49.1% suggested either not following the issue very closely or not at all.

Among those with an opinion and following the issue closely, 59.5%, suggested that Congressman DeLay resign his leadership position. Another 40.5% said he should not give up his post.

As for resigning from the U.S. Congress, 45.3% with an opinion and following the issue closely suggested he should while 54.7% said he should not resign.

President George W. Bush
The Sacred Heart University Poll shows President George Bush's favorable job rating at 52.3%—down from 55.4% in October 2004 and 57.7% in April 2004.

Iraq
Americans are evenly split over the current direction of events in Iraq. Among those with an opinion, 45.7% suggest the situation in Iraq is moving in the right direction while 45.0% said in the wrong direction. Another 9.3% said either there is no movement or the situation is stagnant.

And, in retrospect, 49.8% indicated that the American actions in Iraq were the wrong decision while 36.8% said it was the right decision. Some, 13.4%, were unsure.

Education
Over three quarters of Americans surveyed, 77.8%, suggested they were very or somewhat aware of the “No Child Left Behind Act”. Together with those suggesting they were somewhat unaware, total awareness, at any level, is 83.4%.

Among aware survey respondents, 42.4% see the Act as very or somewhat successful while 42.3% indicated they considered the Act somewhat unsuccessful or not at all successful. Another 15.2% were unsure. African Americans are significantly more likely to suggest the Act is successful (48.8%) than the general population.

Regarding school vouchers – allowing parents to move their children from under-performing schools to more successful schools – 69.4% of those with an opinion said they supported school vouchers. Another 30.4% were opposed. And, again, African Americans are significantly more likely to support school vouchers (77.3%) than the general population.

Steroid Use
A large majority of Americans surveyed, 87.3%, suggested they strongly supported (67.3%) or somewhat supported (19.7%) random testing of High School athletes for steroid use. Another 9.3% said they were somewhat opposed (3.3%) or strongly opposed (6.0%). Some, 3.3% were undecided.

Terri Schiavo
A large majority of Americans surveyed, 79.8%, said they followed the issue as the President, Congress and the Courts fought over the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube in Florida. Together with those saying they watched very little (8.7%), those following the fight at any level was 88.5%.

More Americans (43.0%) supported the removal of the feeding tube than those opposed (39.2%), after learning that Terri Schiavo did not need a feeding tube to eat, was not terminally ill and her internal organs functioned properly.

Among those with an opinion, 52.3% supported the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube while 47.8% were opposed. Among Hispanics, significantly fewer supported the removal of the feeding tube (41.2%) than the general population.

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EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT 

• Gary Rose, Ph.D., professor and chair of Sacred Heart University's Department of History and Political Science. 
• Jerry Lindsley, director, Sacred Heart University Polling Institute

To speak with these experts, please contact Funda Alp at 203-396-8241 or alpf@sacredheart.edu
How the Poll Was Conducted

The Sacred Heart University Polling Institute completed 1,000 interviews with residents nationwide. All phone interviews were conducted between April 20-28, 2005. The sample was generated proportional to population contribution in all fifty states. Statistically, a sample of 1,000 completed telephone interviews represents a margin for error of +/-3.0% at a 95% confidence level. Margins for error grow as subgroups of the sample are viewed separately. The steroid testing question was completed among 299 respondents nationwide with an associated margin for error of +/-6.0%.

About Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University is the first Catholic university in the United States to be led and staffed by lay people. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, SHU is the second-largest Catholic university in New England. With over 5,700 undergraduate and graduate students, SHU has experienced two-fold enrollment growth during the past ten years due to outstanding academic programs in business, education, liberal arts and health sciences. SHU is a Division-I member of the NCAA. Visit our website at: www.sacredheart.edu.
Contact: Funda Alp (alpf@sacredheart.edu)

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