American Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes of American Jews
(April 2012)
American Jewish Committee, "2012 AJC Survey of American Jewish Opinion," AJC, April 30, 2012.
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Political Party Identification
Voting Priorities
Iran
Peace Process
Background
Connection to Israel
Knowledge Network Profile Questions
Political Party Identification
Where would you place yourself on this scale?
Liberal | 24% |
Lean Liberal | 22% |
Moderate, Middle of the Road | 35% |
Lean Conservative | 10% |
Conservative | 9% |
No Response | 0% |
In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
Republican | 19% |
Independent | 26% |
Democrat | 52% |
Other | 2% |
No Response | 0% |
[IF INDEPENDENT/OTHER] As of TODAY, do you think of yourself as closer to the...
Republican Party | 34% |
Democratic Party | 64% |
No Response | 1% |
This is a list of the front running candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. Please indicate your opinion of each candidate. If you haven't heard enough to decide, please select that response.
Mitt Romney
Very Favorable | 11% |
Somewhat Favorable | 25% |
Very Unfavorable | 29% |
Somewhat Unfavorable | 28% |
Haven't Heard Enough to Decide | 6% |
No Response | 1% |
Rick Santorum
Very Favorable | 3% |
Somewhat Favorable | 15% |
Very Unfavorable | 55% |
Somewhat Unfavorable | 19% |
Haven't Heard Enough to Decide | 8% |
No Response | 1% |
Newt Gingrich
Very Favorable | 3% |
Somewhat Favorable | 14% |
Very Unfavorable | 53% |
Somewhat Unfavorable | 23% |
Haven't Heard Enough to Decide | 6% |
No Response | 1% |
Ron Paul
Very Favorable | 5% |
Somewhat Favorable | 17% |
Very Unfavorable | 39% |
Somewhat Unfavorable | 27% |
Haven't Heard Enough to Decide | 12% |
No Response | 1% |
If the presidential election was being held today, and the candidates were [ORDER ROTATED] Mitt Romney, Republican, or Barack Obama, Democrat, for whom would you most likely vote?
Mitt Romney, Republican | 28% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 61% |
Undecided | 11% |
No Response | *% |
[IF UNDECIDED ON PREVIOUS QUESTION] At this point, are you leaning toward Mitt Romney, Republican, or Barack Obama, Democrate [ORDER ROTATED]?
Mitt Romney, Republican | 5% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 6% |
No Response | 1% |
If the presidential election was being held today, and the candidates were [ORDER ROTATED] Rick Santorum, Republican, or Barack Obama, Democrat, for whom would you most likely vote?
Rick Santorum, Republican | 21% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 68% |
Hard Undecided | 11% |
No Response | *% |
[IF UNDECIDED IN PREVIOUS QUESTION] At this point, are you leaning toward Rick Santorum, Republican or Barack Obama, Democrat [ORDER ROTATED]?
Rick Santorum, Republican | 6% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 5% |
No Response | *% |
If the presidential election was being held today, and the candidates were [ORDER ROTATED] Newt Gingrich, Republican, or Barack Obama, Democrat, for whom would you most likely vote?
Newt Gingrich, Republican | 21% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 68% |
Hard Undecided | 12% |
No Response | *% |
[IF UNDECIDED IN PREVIOUS QUESTION] At this point, are you leaning toward Newt Gingrich, Republican or Barack Obama, Democrat [ORDER ROTATED]?
Newt Gingrich, Republican | 6% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 5% |
No Response | 1% |
If the presidential election was being held today, and the candidates were [ORDER ROTATED] Ron Paul, Republican, or Barack Obama, Democrat, for whom would you most likely vote?
Ron Paul, Republican | 19% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 66% |
Undecided | 15% |
No Response | 1% |
[IF UNDECIDED IN PREVIOUS QUESTION] At this point, are you leaning toward Ron Paul, Republican, or Barack Obama, Democrat [ORDER ROTATED]?
Ron Paul, Republican | 8% |
Barack Obama, Democrat | 7% |
No Response | 1% |
Voting Priorities
Among the following list of choices, what are the 3 most important issues to you in decided how you will vote in the 2012 presidential election?
1st | 2nd | 3rd | All | |
National Security | 9% | 9% | 8% | 26% |
Economy | 29% | 26% | 28% | 80% |
Health Care | 20% | 19% | 20% | 57% |
US-Israel Relations | 6% | 9% | 8% | 22% |
Immigration | 4% | 3% | 1% | 8% |
Energy Security | 4% | 5% | 4% | 14% |
Taxes | 8% | 10% | 10% | 26% |
Social Security | 8% | 7% | 8% | 22% |
Iran's Nuclear Program | 4% | 5% | 6% | 15% |
Church-State Issues | 4% | 2% | 2% | 8% |
Abortion | 3% | 4% | 4% | 11% |
No Response | 1% | -- | -- | 1% |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling each of these issues:
National Security
Approve Strongly | 23% |
Approve Somewhat | 46% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 18% |
Disapprove Strongly | 11% |
No Response | 1% |
Economy
Approve Strongly | 16% |
Approve Somewhat | 41% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 20% |
Disapprove Strongly | 21% |
No Response | 2% |
Health Care
Approve Strongly | 23% |
Approve Somewhat | 39% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 14% |
Disapprove Strongly | 22% |
No Response | 1% |
US-Israel Relations
Approve Strongly | 15% |
Approve Somewhat | 43% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 22% |
Disapprove Strongly | 18% |
No Response | 1% |
Immigration
Approve Strongly | 12% |
Approve Somewhat | 44% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 26% |
Disapprove Strongly | 16% |
No Response | 2% |
Energy Security
Approve Strongly | 13% |
Approve Somewhat | 48% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 22% |
Disapprove Strongly | 16% |
No Response | 2% |
Taxes
Approve Strongly | 15% |
Approve Somewhat | 42% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 24% |
Disapprove Strongly | 17% |
No Response | 2% |
Social Security
Approve Strongly | 18% |
Approve Somewhat | 43% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 25% |
Disapprove Strongly | 13% |
No Response | 1% |
Iran's Nuclear Program
Approve Strongly | 17% |
Approve Somewhat | 44% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 21% |
Disapprove Strongly | 16% |
No Response | 1% |
Church-State Issues
Approve Strongly | 24% |
Approve Somewhat | 44% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 18% |
Disapprove Strongly | 12% |
No Response | 2% |
Abortion
Approve Strongly | 34% |
Approve Somewhat | 39% |
Disapprove Somewhat | 15% |
Disapprove Strongly | 10% |
No Response | 1% |
Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republiccratic Party is more likely to make the right decisions in dealing with the following issues:
National Security
Republican Party | 36% |
Democratic Party | 60% |
No Response | 3% |
Economy
Republican Party | 36% |
Democratic Party | 62% |
No Response | 2% |
Health Care
Republican Party | 32% |
Democratic Party | 66% |
No Response | 2% |
US-Israel Relations
Republican Party | 40% |
Democratic Party | 57% |
No Response | 3% |
Immigration
Republican Party | 32% |
Democratic Party | 64% |
No Response | 4% |
Energy Security
Republican Party | 30% |
Democratic Party | 66% |
No Response | 4% |
Taxes
Republican Party | 35% |
Democratic Party | 63% |
No Response | 2% |
Social Security
Republican Party | 32% |
Democratic Party | 65% |
No Response | 2% |
Iran's Nuclear Program
Republican Party | 37% |
Democratic Party | 60% |
No Response | 3% |
Church-State Issues
Republican Party | 22% |
Democratic Party | 74% |
No Response | 3% |
Abortion
Republican Party | 16% |
Democratic Party | 81% |
No Response | 2% |
Iran
How concerned are you about the prospect of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons?
Very Concerned | 56% |
Somewhat Concerned | 33% |
Not Too Concerned | 9% |
Not Concerned At All | 2% |
No Response | 0% |
How likely do you think it is that a combination of diplomacy and sanctions can stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons?
Very Likely | 5% |
Somewhat Likely | 37% |
Somewhat Unlikley | 35% |
Very Unlikely | 21% |
No Response | 2% |
If diplomacy and sanctions fail, would you support or oppose the United States taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support Strongly | 28% |
Somewhat Support | 36% |
Oppose Somewhat | 24% |
Oppose Strongly | 10% |
No Response | 2% |
If diplomacy and sanctions fail, would you support or oppose Israel taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support Strongly | 39% |
Somewhat Support | 36% |
Oppose Somewhat | 14% |
Oppose Strongly | 11% |
No Response | 1% |
Peace Process
Compared to one year ago, do you think prospects for Arab-Israeli peace have increased, decreased, or stayed the same?
Increased | 7% |
Decreased | 37% |
Stayed the Same | 55% |
No Response | 2% |
Background
Do you think of yourself as...
Orthodox | 8% |
Conservative | 26% |
Reconstructionist | 1% |
Reform | 34% |
Just Jewish | 26% |
No Response | 5% |
How important is being Jewish in your own life?
Very Important | 38% |
Somewhat Important | 29% |
Not Too Important | 18% |
Not At All Important | 14% |
No Response | 1% |
Aside from special occasions such as weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, how often to you attend services at a Jewish temple or synagogue?
More Than Once a Week | 6% |
Once a Week | 8% |
Once or Twice a Month | 12% |
A Few Times a Year | 27% |
Once a Year or Less | 16% |
Never | 31% |
No Response | 1% |
Connection to Israel
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Caring about Israel is a very important part of my being a Jew.
Agree Strongly | 37% |
Agree Somewhat | 34% |
Disagree Somewhat | 15% |
Disagree Strongly | 13% |
No Response | 1% |
Have you ever been to Israel?
No | 59% |
Yes, Once | 19% |
Yes, Twice | 9% |
Yes, Three or More Times | 12% |
No Response | 1% |
[IF NO] Why not?
I've never had the opportunity to go | 48% |
It's too expensive | 32% |
I'm afraid | 13% |
I'm not interested | 31% |
Other | 11% |
What is your opinion of the way the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is handling the US-Israel relationship?
Very Favorable | 22% |
Somewhat Favorable | 48% |
Very Unfavorable | 10% |
Somewhat Unfavorable | 18% |
No Response | 2% |
Knowledge Network Profile Questions
Gender
Male | 51% |
Female | 49% |
Age
18-29 | 15% |
30-44 | 24% |
45-59 | 26% |
60+ | 36% |
Education
Less Than High School | 1% |
High School Graduate | 9% |
Some College | 24% |
College Graduate | 66% |
Household Income
$0 - <$50K | 20% |
$50K - <$85K | 28% |
$85K - <$125K | 29% |
$125K+ | 22% |
Marital Status
Married | 54% |
Previously Married | 17% |
Never Married | 21% |
Living with Partner | 8% |
Region
Northeast | 36% |
Midwest | 13% |
South | 26% |
West | 24% |