All: Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation joined Congressman Peter Roskam in sending a letter to
President Barack Obama requesting a National Security Council (NSC) briefing, after one of the five Democrat Senate candidates, Alexi Giannoulias, disclosed that he received a NSC briefing in an interview this morning.

Pertinent background information is at the bottom and a PDF of the letter is attached as well.

November 20, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

In the week since your Administration announced its plans to move terrorists to Thomson, Illinois, Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation requested a briefing from the Department of Defense, called for security impact studies and sent two letters calling for additional information.

In light of today's disclosure from Illinois State Treasurer and Democratic Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias that he has been briefed by National Security Council (NSC) officials on the plans to move al-Qaeda terrorists to Illinois, we are formally requesting a briefing from NSC officials in the interest of ensuring that the elected officials of the State of Illinois are provided the information needed to carry out their sworn duties for the people they represent.

Moving terrorists from Guantanamo to northern Illinois will have implications for the people of northern Illinois with respect to homeland security and lost economic opportunity. To ensure the people of Illinois are afforded the utmost consideration for their safety, it is important to have their federal elected representatives apprised of the details of this evolving situation.

Additionally, we urge you to eschew the increasingly political nature of this situation. Unfortunately, this deliberation has been tainted by the appearance of political favoritism given that one of the five prospective Democratic U.S. Senate candidates received a NSC briefing while elected Members of Congress have not. The people of Illinois will be best served by a process that forgoes the behind-closed-doors political approach and instead provides for open and transparent consideration.

Sincerely,

Peter Roskam
John Shimkus
Aaron Schock
Tim Johnson
Mark Kirk
Judy Biggert

Background:

"Most importantly I had a chance to talk to the National Security Council folks." - Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias (WLS 890 AM's "Don Wade and Roma Show", 11/20/2009)

Listen to the full audio of the interview here.

(6:30 mark)

Roma: "Have you been briefed on this by the White House or since you are a state constitutional officer has Governor Quinn briefed you?

Giannoulias: "We've spoken to their offices, I've gotten some packets of paper, and I've read them. Most importantly I had a chance to talk to the National Security Council folks."

(3:50 mark)

Giannoulias: "I've had a chance to talk to some folks on the National Security Council and they've told me that today, in this country federal prisons securely house approximately 350 inmates already including 35 already in Illinois and the U.S. military has demonstrated the ability to house those inmates, so I've heard some facts from them."

###

Steele will huddle with state Rep. Beth Coulson (R-Glenview), running for the 10th congressional district seat being vacated by Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), a Senate hopeful.

From Coulson: She "will join Illinois' House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Chris Radogno, as well as Illinois Republican Chairman Pat Brady in the meeting with the chairman to talk about the upcoming midterm elections in Illinois and how to keep the 10th Congressional District in Republican hands."

Illinois voters have a Feb. 2 primary.

REP. COULSON TO MEET WITH RNC CHAIR

NORTHBROOK (November 19) - State Rep. Beth Coulson, Republican candidate for Congress in the 10thDistrict, today announced she will meet with RNC Chairman Michael Steele on Friday in Chicago.

Coulson will join Illinois' House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Chris Radogno, as well as Illinois Republican Chairman Pat Brady in the meeting with the chairman to talk about the upcoming midterm elections in Illinois and how to keep the 10th Congressional District in Republican hands.

"I welcome the opportunity to meet with Chairman Steele to discuss how the Illinois Republican Party can compete in many of the state elections and how we can keep this seat in Republican control," Coulson said. "I'm the only candidate that knows what it's like being in a targeted election and I believe my successful record as a fiscally conservative state legislator will be key to winning in November."

The 10thCongressional race has been rated as one of the top races in the nation this year following Rep. Mark Kirk's announcement that he is running for the Senate. Coulson is the only elected official in the Republican Primary.

"As many have already heard, I, along with leaders of the Illinois delegation, have already endorsed Beth in the Congressional race," Cross said. "Looking at the political landscape in Illinois, there are great opportunities for the party in the upcoming elections. Having been unsuccessfully targeted by the Democrats five times, Beth will be able to provide valuable insight into how we can keep the 10thCongressional District."

###

WASHINGTON--Illinois State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) briefed me Thursday on what is involved on the state end in selling Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois to the federal government.

The Obama administration is considering asking Illinois Gov. Quinn to sell the nearly vacant Thomson to the federal Bureau of Prisons, which in turn would lease a portion to the Defense Department to run a military prison for Guantanamo detainees. Sen. Dick Durbin is leading the drive for Thomson; Illinois House Republicans and Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) are against the plan.

Schoenberg is the Senate co-chair of the 12-member state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which plays an advisory role in the decision.

Schoenberg outlined the process once Quinn says in writing he wants to sell a state property. He said the state Central Management Services department has to declare it surplus; it has to be offered first to local units of government to see if they want to buy it; then there is an appraisal and then the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability looks at the sale to determine if it is a good idea.

The law calls for the 12-member body to have a formal hearing process, which includes a "detailed public examination of the impact of closing a state facility, including the economic impact," Schoenberg said. The Illinois Department of Corrections would also conduct there own economic impact analysis.

The commission findings are advisory and in the end, the Illinois General Assembly cannot veto what Quinn wants to do.

The White House has not announced a timetable for making a decision.

I caught up with Cullerton, his wife Pam, state Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) as they were leaving the delegation meeting in Durbin's Senate leadership offices in the Capitol. Durbin was taking them to meet Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.)

The fund-raiser was hosted by former Illinois state Sen. Gary LaPaille (D-Ill.), now a Washington lobbyist (LaPaille hosted a funder for Gov. Quinn earlier in the month) and Bernie Robinson, a lobbyist and former chief of the State of Illinois Washington office.

AMERICAN VOTERS LIKE OBAMA, BUT NOT HIS POLICIES,
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY NATIONAL POLL FINDS;
SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC OPTION, BUT NOT OVERALL HEALTH PLAN

Three-quarters of American voters - 74 percent - like President Barack Obama as a person, but only 47 percent like most of his policies, and voters disapprove 51 - 35 percent of the health care overhaul passed by the House of Representatives which he has endorsed, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

Voters disapprove 53 - 41percent of President Obama's handling of health care.

Obama's endorsement of the House of Representatives-passed health care plan makes no difference to 44 percent of American voters, while 24 percent say it makes them view him more favorably; 30 percent less favorably.

Voters favor 57 - 35 percent giving people the option of being covered by a government-run health insurance plan, the "public option." Independent voters approve 55 - 39 percent. The overall approval is down from 61 - 34 percent in an October 8 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. And they oppose two proposals to modify it:

• Allowing states to opt out of the public option is a bad idea, voters say 49 - 43 percent;
• Voters also oppose 47 - 38 percent the "trigger," where the public option kicks in only if
private insurance does not cover enough people.
Given four choices to describe their feelings about the President, American voters say:
• 46 percent like Obama as a person and like most of his policies;
• 28 percent like him as a person, but don't like most of his policies;
• 1 percent like his policies, but don't like him as a person;
• 20 percent don't like him or his policies.

"Most Americans like President Barack Obama and might like to have a beer with him," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But millions of voters who sided with him last November because they thought he would bring change to Washington aren't crazy about the kind of change he is trying to bring."

"That is especially true of independent voters, many of whom used to be Republicans turned off by the Bush years. They may not yet have returned to their former political home, but many have concluded Obama isn't offering their kind of solutions," Brown added.

"The President's lower policy approval may be a warning sign for the White House that they need to better align their programs with the views of the American people, or better explain to the American people what they're trying to do."

The fall-off from Obama's personal likability to approval of his policies is greater among independent voters, a group Obama carried in the election. Overall 28 percent of Americans say they like Obama personally but not his policies, while 34 percent of independents feel that way.
"He may have won these independents last year, but he needs to do a better job convincing them that he is offering policies that will benefit them," said Brown.
"The health care overhaul which passed the House 12 days ago gets a failing grade from the American people and so does Obama on the issue," said Brown. "Independent voters disapprove 59 - 35 percent of the President's handling of health care and disapprove 57 - 29 percent of the plan itself."
Overall, support for the plan drops as you go up the age and income scale, while the gender gap is significant: men disapprove 56 - 33 percent while women disapprove 46 - 37 percent. There is a racial divide as well: 68 percent of African-Americans, 47 percent of Hispanics and 29 percent of white voters support the health care plan.
While this survey has bad news for the President, the news for Republicans is worse:
Voters say 45 - 36 percent, including 40 - 37 percent among independents, that Obama is better able to handle health care than congressional Republicans. In October, it was 47 - 31 percent in the President's favor.
Voters also say 59 - 29 percent that Republicans are not making a good faith effort to work with Obama and the Democrats on health care.
A total of 61 percent of American voters say it is "very important" or "somewhat important" that health care reform be approved this year.
From November 9 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,518 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Approve 36% 9% 68% 27% 31% 41% 31% 69% 38%
Disapprove 55 85 23 62 62 47 60 25 40
DK/NA 9 6 9 11 7 12 9 7 22

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Approve 44% 36% 31% 42% 33% 32% 58% 44% 18%
Disapprove 46 54 60 47 59 62 33 46 75
DK/NA 10 9 9 11 8 6 9 10 7

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Approve 36% 36% 24% 26% 31% 54% 29%
Disapprove 53 57 70 66 62 41 64
DK/NA 10 8 6 7 6 5 7

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?

APPROVE......
High Low
Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 6 July 2 Jun 4 Mar 4 Oct 8
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009

Approve 36 33 35 38 43 45 33
Disapprove 55 56 55 50 45 45 56
DK/NA 9 11 10 12 11 10 11

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Approve 31% 54% 21% 27% 30% 32% 31% 29% 40%
Disapprove 58 37 71 62 62 54 58 61 48
DK/NA 11 9 8 11 8 14 11 10 12

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Approve 42% 30% 26% 32% 34% 28% 19% 28% 42%
Disapprove 46 62 61 56 58 67 73 61 48
DK/NA 12 8 13 12 8 5 8 11 10

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Approve 32% 28% 38% 35% 36% 15% 29%
Disapprove 55 65 53 55 55 82 60
DK/NA 12 7 9 10 8 4 11
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?

APPROVE......
High Low
Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 6 July 2 Jun 4 Nov 19 Oct 8
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009

Approve 31 25 29 29 30 31 25
Disapprove 58 64 59 57 56 58 64
DK/NA 11 11 12 14 15 11 11

4. 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 Wht Blk His

Very satisfied 3% - 6% 1% 3% 3% 2% 8% 4%
Smwht sat 27 10 47 21 25 29 23 49 33
Smwht dissat 30 31 29 32 28 33 30 30 31
Very dissat 39 59 17 45 44 35 44 12 31
DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 -

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Very satisfied 2% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 6% 2% 1%
Smwht sat 33 27 24 30 26 26 46 33 13
Smwht dissat 38 29 25 32 29 30 31 36 25
Very dissat 25 41 47 35 42 41 18 28 60
DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - - - - 1

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Very satisfied 3% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 3%
Smwht sat 26 31 14 19 25 52 25
Smwht dissat 31 29 27 29 31 28 28
Very dissat 40 38 57 50 42 19 45
DK/NA 1 1 - 1 - 1 -

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
Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 29 Dec 11 Nov 13
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2001 2008

Very satisfied 3 3 4 5 6 21 2
Smwht satisfied 27 27 31 34 30 47 14
Smwht dissatisfied 30 31 30 29 29 19 38
Very dissatisfied 39 38 34 31 34 10 44
DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 3 2

5. Which one of the following statements comes closest to the way you feel about
Barack Obama - A) I like Barack Obama as a person and I also like most of his policies
B) I like Barack Obama as a person but I don't like most of his policies C) I don't like Barack Obama as a person but I DO like most of his policies OR D) I don't like
Barack Obama as a person and I also don't like most of his policies?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Person/Policies 46% 10% 83% 39% 41% 51% 39% 88% 56%
Person/Not policies 28 40 11 34 29 27 31 8 25
Policies/Not person 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 - 1
Not pol/Not person 20 42 4 18 24 16 24 - 13
DK/NA 5 7 2 7 6 5 5 4 6

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Person/Policies 52% 47% 42% 52% 44% 42% 78% 54% 22%
Person/Not policies 29 27 27 25 28 33 16 28 35
Policies/Not person - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Not pol/Not person 16 19 24 17 24 19 2 12 37
DK/NA 3 6 6 6 3 5 2 5 6

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Person/Policies 46% 47% 26% 33% 39% 73% 37%
Person/Not policies 28 29 37 32 33 12 31
Policies/Not person 1 1 1 1 1 - 1
Not pol/Not person 20 19 32 29 22 14 25
DK/NA 6 4 5 5 4 1 6

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

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Approve 41% 11% 73% 35% 39% 44% 33% 79% 66%
Disapprove 53 87 21 59 57 49 61 16 29
DK/NA 6 3 6 6 4 7 6 5 5

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Approve 49% 41% 37% 45% 40% 42% 71% 51% 17%
Disapprove 48 53 55 48 54 57 23 43 78
DK/NA 3 6 7 7 5 2 7 6 4

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Approve 40% 46% 22% 28% 34% 60% 36%
Disapprove 53 51 73 67 60 38 59
DK/NA 7 3 5 6 6 2 5

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

Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 2
2009 2009 2009 2009

Approve 41 41 39 46
Disapprove 53 51 52 42
DK/NA 6 8 9 13

10. Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Favorable 50% 15% 87% 44% 46% 55% 43% 90% 64%
Unfavorable 38 72 8 41 44 33 45 3 22
Hvn't hrd enough 9 11 4 13 9 10 10 6 11
REFUSED 2 2 1 2 2 3 2 1 3

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Favorable 57% 52% 45% 55% 48% 51% 85% 62% 22%
Unfavorable 33 38 42 32 45 41 10 26 66
Hvn't hrd enough 8 9 10 12 6 6 4 10 10
REFUSED 2 1 3 2 2 1 - 2 3

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Favorable 49% 55% 28% 34% 45% 72% 42%
Unfavorable 38 39 60 53 43 19 46
Hvn't hrd enough 11 5 10 10 9 9 9
REFUSED 2 2 3 2 3 - 2

TREND: Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

APPROVE.......
High Low
Nov 19 Oct 8 July 2 Apr 29 Apr 1 Nov 12 Feb 21
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2007

Favorable 50 53 58 58 59 67 44
Unfavorable 38 37 30 27 26 19 14
Hvn't hrd enough 9 8 10 11 13 11 40
REFUSED 2 2 2 3 2 3 1

11. Is your opinion of the - Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Favorable 39% 7% 78% 25% 33% 44% 34% 68% 45%
Unfavorable 46 80 10 56 55 38 52 15 27
Hvn't hrd enough 13 12 10 15 11 15 11 15 25
REFUSED 2 1 2 3 2 3 2 2 3

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Favorable 45% 39% 35% 44% 35% 36% 73% 46% 15%
Unfavorable 34 49 51 36 53 57 16 37 71
Hvn't hrd enough 19 10 11 17 9 6 9 15 13
REFUSED 2 2 3 3 2 - 2 2 2

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Favorable 38% 42% 23% 27% 34% 68% 30%
Unfavorable 44 49 63 59 52 27 57
Hvn't hrd enough 15 7 11 11 11 4 11
REFUSED 3 2 2 3 2 1 2

TREND: Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Nov 19 Oct 8 July 2 Apr 29 Apr 1 Nov 12
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008

Favorable 39 38 42 43 41 55
Unfavorable 46 46 42 41 42 35
Hvn't hrd enough 13 13 13 13 13 6
REFUSED 2 3 3 3 3 4

12. Is your opinion of the - Republican Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Favorable 28% 63% 9% 23% 27% 28% 30% 15% 28%
Unfavorable 53 21 74 55 56 50 52 60 50
Hvn't hrd enough 16 13 14 18 14 18 15 19 19
REFUSED 4 2 3 3 3 4 3 6 3

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Favorable 27% 28% 25% 24% 30% 28% 14% 21% 41%
Unfavorable 51 56 52 52 57 60 74 58 38
Hvn't hrd enough 18 13 19 20 11 11 9 18 17
REFUSED 4 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 3
WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Favorable 28% 27% 41% 34% 32% 11% 30%
Unfavorable 49 62 40 46 51 84 50
Hvn't hrd enough 19 8 16 15 15 4 16
REFUSED 4 3 4 4 2 1 4
TREND: Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?

Nov 19 Oct 8 July 2 Apr 29 Apr 1 Nov 12
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008

Favorable 28 25 25 27 27 36
Unfavorable 53 53 52 51 52 52
Hvn't hrd enough 16 18 20 17 17 7
REFUSED 4 4 3 5 4 5

14. Do you think the government should limit the amount of money that companies that are taking federal funds pay their executives?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Yes 76% 72% 84% 75% 72% 81% 76% 80% 78%
No 19 24 11 21 23 15 20 12 18
DK/NA 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 7 4

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Yes 76% 79% 76% 82% 74% 74% 91% 82% 65%
No 19 18 19 14 23 22 7 14 30
DK/NA 5 3 5 4 3 5 2 3 5

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Yes 77% 75% 73% 73% 78% 77% 74%
No 18 22 23 23 18 20 22
DK/NA 5 3 5 4 4 3 5

TREND: Do you think the government should limit the amount of money that companies that are taking federal funds pay their executives?

Nov 19 Apr 1
2009 2009

Yes 76 81
No 19 16
DK/NA 4 3

15. Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Pres Obama 45% 9% 83% 40% 42% 48% 37% 86% 69%
Reps in Congress 36 73 7 37 40 32 43 4 19
DK/NA 19 18 9 23 18 20 20 10 12

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Pres Obama 51% 46% 41% 50% 42% 47% 79% 54% 20%
Reps in Congress 34 38 37 31 39 40 10 25 61
DK/NA 15 17 22 19 18 13 10 21 19

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Pres Obama 44% 49% 23% 29% 42% 70% 37%
Reps in Congress 35 37 58 49 42 24 42
DK/NA 21 13 19 22 16 6 21

TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 1
2009 2009 2009 2009

President Obama 45 47 46 53
Reps in Congress 36 31 37 33
DK/NA 19 21 16 14

16. How much have you heard or read about the health care reform plan that was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives - a lot, some, not much, or nothing at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

A lot 33% 36% 27% 35% 37% 29% 34% 27% 18%
Some 44 44 49 42 39 48 43 49 53
Not much 18 16 20 17 17 18 17 21 23
Nothing at all 5 4 4 5 6 5 5 4 4
DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 - 1 - 2

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

A lot 25% 34% 38% 27% 36% 44% 33% 27% 38%
Some 49 45 38 42 48 45 46 48 40
Not much 19 16 17 23 12 10 19 20 15
Nothing at all 7 4 6 8 3 2 2 4 7
DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 - 1 1 -
WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

A lot 28% 46% 33% 35% 33% 45% 37%
Some 44 43 42 41 44 49 42
Not much 21 9 20 18 19 5 16
Nothing at all 7 1 5 6 4 1 4
DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 - 1
17. Do you approve or disapprove of this health care reform plan?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Approve 35% 8% 64% 29% 33% 37% 29% 68% 47%
Disapprove 51 82 20 57 56 46 58 16 30
DK/NA 14 10 16 14 11 17 13 16 23

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Approve 39% 36% 33% 40% 34% 34% 64% 41% 15%
Disapprove 46 50 54 45 52 57 20 40 76
DK/NA 15 14 13 15 14 9 16 19 9

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Approve 34% 39% 19% 25% 29% 53% 29%
Disapprove 50 51 70 64 57 40 58
DK/NA 16 10 11 11 13 7 13

18. Does Barack Obama's support of this health care reform plan make you think more favorably of him, less favorably, or doesn't it make a difference?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

More favorably 24% 5% 46% 17% 21% 26% 19% 39% 44%
Less favorably 30 57 6 33 35 26 36 4 17
No diff 44 35 45 48 42 45 42 53 38
DK/NA 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 1

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

More favorably 22% 24% 25% 27% 22% 23% 48% 26% 9%
Less favorably 24 30 34 24 34 33 8 21 52
No diff 52 45 38 46 42 44 42 51 37
DK/NA 2 2 3 3 2 1 3 2 2

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

More favorably 24% 24% 11% 16% 21% 37% 21%
Less favorably 30 31 47 43 33 12 36
No diff 44 43 40 40 43 51 40
DK/NA 3 2 2 1 3 - 3

19. Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Support 57% 29% 82% 55% 54% 60% 52% 80% 70%
Oppose 35 61 11 39 41 30 38 15 28
DK/NA 8 11 7 6 6 10 9 4 2

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Support 66% 59% 50% 61% 55% 59% 85% 68% 32%
Oppose 30 35 39 30 39 37 10 24 60
DK/NA 4 7 11 9 6 4 5 8 8

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Support 56% 60% 43% 46% 52% 71% 52%
Oppose 35 35 48 45 40 23 39
DK/NA 9 5 10 9 9 6 8

TREND: Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?

Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 1
2009 2009 2009 2009

Support 57 61 62 69
Oppose 35 34 32 26
DK/NA 8 6 6 5

20. There is a proposal that would allow states to opt out of a public option - that is it would be left up to each state to decide whether or not to give people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Good idea 43% 46% 40% 45% 44% 43% 42% 45% 50%
Bad idea 49 45 55 50 51 48 50 49 46
DK/NA 7 9 6 6 6 9 8 7 4

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Good idea 50% 43% 40% 47% 43% 36% 36% 44% 47%
Bad idea 46 52 49 46 50 60 60 51 44
DK/NA 4 5 11 7 7 4 4 6 9

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Good idea 46% 37% 48% 44% 38% 25% 43%
Bad idea 47 57 44 47 56 69 49
DK/NA 8 7 8 8 6 5 9
21. Some have suggested that the creation of a public option should only be triggered if the private market does not meet benchmarks to extend coverage to all Americans. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Good idea 38% 35% 42% 38% 38% 37% 37% 48% 45%
Bad idea 47 47 43 52 51 44 48 36 46
DK/NA 15 18 15 10 10 19 15 16 10

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Good idea 39% 40% 34% 41% 37% 36% 36% 43% 34%
Bad idea 48 49 46 43 53 56 50 44 51
DK/NA 13 10 19 16 10 9 14 13 15

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Good idea 39% 35% 36% 34% 41% 38% 39%
Bad idea 45 55 48 49 45 55 48
DK/NA 16 10 16 17 15 8 13

22. How important is it to you that Congress approve of a health care overhaul plan this year - very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Very important 39% 16% 61% 36% 35% 42% 32% 71% 57%
Smwht important 22 19 27 21 20 24 23 15 25
Not too imp 13 24 7 13 12 15 15 6 8
Not imp at all 23 38 3 28 30 16 26 6 7
DK/NA 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 2

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Very important 42% 38% 39% 44% 33% 40% 65% 43% 22%
Smwht important 25 23 18 24 22 19 23 28 17
Not too imp 11 14 14 12 13 13 7 13 17
Not imp at all 19 23 25 16 31 27 4 14 42
DK/NA 2 1 4 3 1 1 1 2 3

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Very important 39% 39% 25% 29% 33% 57% 37%
Smwht important 23 19 23 21 26 14 19
Not too imp 13 15 18 18 13 3 13
Not imp at all 22 25 32 30 26 25 27
DK/NA 3 2 3 3 2 1 4

23. Do you agree or disagree with the following: Congress should approve a health care overhaul plan even if only Democrats support it.

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Agree 36% 9% 64% 30% 35% 36% 31% 59% 52%
Disagree 60 88 32 67 62 58 64 37 43
DK/NA 5 3 4 3 3 6 5 5 4

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Agree 35% 37% 36% 40% 34% 36% 63% 41% 16%
Disagree 61 60 57 55 64 63 32 55 81
DK/NA 3 3 7 5 2 2 5 4 3

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Agree 35% 39% 22% 26% 33% 67% 31%
Disagree 60 58 75 69 63 32 65
DK/NA 5 3 3 4 4 2 5

TREND: Do you agree or disagree with the following: Congress should approve a health care overhaul plan even if only Democrats support it.

Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5
2009 2009 2009

Agree 36 37 36
Disagree 60 57 59
DK/NA 5 6 5

24. Do you think the Republicans in Congress are, or are not, making a good faith effort to cooperate with Obama and the Democrats on health care reform?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Making effort 29% 48% 15% 29% 30% 29% 32% 18% 23%
Not mkg effort 59 39 75 59 60 58 56 77 60
DK/NA 12 13 9 12 11 13 13 5 17

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Making effort 31% 30% 28% 29% 30% 28% 16% 25% 42%
Not mkg effort 59 60 59 59 61 65 78 64 46
DK/NA 10 10 13 12 9 7 6 11 13

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Making effort 30% 28% 38% 34% 35% 12% 30%
Not mkg effort 57 63 49 52 56 82 59
DK/NA 13 9 13 13 9 5 12

TREND: Do you think the Republicans in Congress are, or are not, making a good faith effort to cooperate with Obama and the Democrats on health care reform?

Nov 19 Oct 8
2009 2009

Yes/Making effort 29 29
No/Not mkg effort 59 59
DK/NA 12 12

25. Do you think Obama and the Democrats in Congress are, or are not, making a good faith effort to cooperate with the Republicans on health care reform?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Making effort 43% 16% 71% 37% 40% 46% 37% 73% 63%
Not mkg effort 46 74 18 53 52 42 52 18 28
DK/NA 10 10 10 10 8 12 11 9 9

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Making effort 51% 43% 39% 48% 41% 40% 70% 53% 21%
Not mkg effort 38 48 51 41 51 52 20 37 69
DK/NA 11 9 11 11 8 8 9 10 10

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Making effort 42% 46% 27% 30% 37% 63% 38%
Not mkg effort 46 47 64 59 55 35 53
DK/NA 12 7 9 11 8 2 9

TREND: Do you think Obama and the Democrats in Congress are, or are not, making a good faith effort to cooperate with the Republicans on health care reform?

Nov 19 Oct 8
2009 2009

Making effort 43 41
Not mkg effort 46 46
DK/NA 10 13

26. President Obama has pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our federal budget deficit over the next decade. Do you think that President Obama will be able to keep his promise or do you think any health care plan that Congress passes and President Obama signs will add to the federal budget deficit?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His

Keep promise 19% 6% 37% 14% 17% 22% 15% 45% 24%
Add to deficit 72 92 50 79 76 68 78 41 56
DK/NA 9 3 14 8 7 10 7 14 20

AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL.........
18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con

Keep promise 23% 18% 18% 23% 17% 15% 33% 21% 11%
Add to deficit 68 76 71 68 75 80 54 70 85
DK/NA 10 6 11 9 8 5 12 10 3

WHITE.............
NoColl Coll BrnAgn Military
Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Households

Keep promise 20% 17% 10% 12% 16% 22% 16%
Add to deficit 70 77 86 81 78 70 77
DK/NA 9 6 4 6 6 8 7

TREND: President Obama has pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our federal budget deficit over the next decade. Do you think that President Obama will be able to keep his promise or do you think any health care plan that Congress passes and President Obama signs will add to the federal budget deficit?

Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5
2009 2009 2009

Keep promise 19 19 21
Add to deficit 72 71 72
DK/NA 9 9 7

Two male network correspondents asked Obama about his weight, after a serious discussion about other issues during one and one interviews in Bejing, China.

Obama told NBC's Chuck Todd, "My weight fluctuates about five pounds. It has for the last 30 years. It's unchanging. I still wear the same -- some of the same stuff I did when I got married 17 years ago. My hair's gotten a lot grayer; there's no doubt about that. But I'm not sure whether that's just because I was about the age where my hair was going to start getting gray."

Chip Reid from CBS also asked Obama about his health. "Well, look, my weight doesn't fluctuate too much. It goes in a five-pound band width," Obama said.

Even with all the burdens, Obama said, "But I'm eating fine and I'm sleeping fine. My hair is getting gray, and it is the butt of a lot of jokes from my wife as well as my friends. You just don't have a comparable set of circumstances with two wars, a financial crisis as bad as anything since 1933, a host of regional issues that have to be dealt with, a pandemic."