A new study by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) has just come out.
US Public Beliefs on Iraq and the Presidential Election
A PIPA/Knowledge Networks Study [April 22, 2004]
See their homepage to see the questionnaire and press release.
Major findings include:
A majority continues to believe that Iraq was giving substantial support to al Qaeda, while nearly half continue to believe that evidence of such support has been found. A majority believes that Iraq either had weapons of mass destruction or a major program for developing them. The majority of those who have such beliefs approve of the decision to go to war, while the majority of those who do not have such beliefs disapprove of the war.
Despite statements by Hans Blix, David Kay and Richard Clarke, a majority of Americans do not have the perception that most experts are saying Iraq did not have WMD or was not providing support to al Qaeda. Also, many perceive the Bush administration as claiming to have found evidence of such links or of WMD.
Those who believe Iraq had WMD or supported al Qaeda, and those who perceive experts as either agreeing on these points, or as divided, are much more likely to say that they will vote for the President than those who do not have such beliefs and perceptions.
Americans are unaware that world public opinion is critical of the US war with Iraq. Those who perceive world public opinion as critical of the US war with Iraq are far less likely to approve of the decision to go to war, and to say they will vote for the president in 2004.
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