Overall, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in this country

today?
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT/MOBILIZATION
How much thought have you given to the presidential election this year... Quite a lot
or only a little?
Quite a lot 4 Some (VOL) 29 Little 8 None (VOL) 2 Dont know/Refused

Are you getting ANY news or information about this years election campaigns on
the internet or through email? Based on internet users [N=1,553] CURRENT % 54
Yes 46 No * Dont know/Refused

Please tell me if you ever use the internet to do any of the following things. Do you
ever use the internet to/Did you happen to do this yesterday, or not?

Are you getting ANY news or information about this years election campaigns on
the internet or through email?

Thinking about the current presidential campaign, people are communicating with
each other and with the political campaigns in many ways, whether to urge support
of a candidate, to discuss the issues or to talk about where the campaign stands.
What about you? About how often do you [INSERT ITEM IN ORDER] support a
candidate or to discuss the campaign several times a day, about once a day,
every few days, once a week or less often?
Send EMAIL to friends, family members or others urging them to
Receive EMAIL urging you to
Send TEXT MESSAGES to friends, family members or others urging them to
Receive TEXT MESSAGES urging you to

Thinking about all the types of information, news and other activities you can do
online related to the presidential campaign, about how often do you go online and
do something related to the campaign several times a day, about once a day,
every few days, once a week or less often?

There are many different campaign-related activities a person might do on the

internet. Im going to read a list of things you may or may not have done online in
the past several months related to the 2008 election campaigns. Just tell me if you
happened to do each one, or not. Have you [INSERT ITEM; ROTATE]?

Thinking about what you have done on social networking sites like Facebook and
MySpace, have you [INSERT ITEM; ROTATE]?

In the past several months, have you [INSERT ITEM in ORDER], or not?
a. Watched campaign commercials online 37 63 *
b. Watched video online of the candidate debates 29 71 *
c. Watched video online of interviews with candidates 33 67 *
d. Watched video online of candidate speeches or announcements 34 66 *
e. Watched video online that did not come from a campaign or a news organization
31 68 1
f. Read the full text of a candidates speech online 15 84 *
g. Read a candidates position paper on an issue online

Here are some views people have about the internet and politics. For each, I would
like to know if you agree or disagree with the statement. (RANDOMIZE)
a. I would not be as involved in this campaign as much if it werent for the internet.
22 74 2 1
b. The news and other information you get online is just the same as you can get
anywhere else. 48 47 4 1
c. The internet is full of misinformation and propaganda that too many voters
believe is accurate. 60 32 7 1
d. The internet lets those with the loudest voices and the most extreme positions
drown out average peoples views. 35 56 8 1
e. The internet helps me feel more personally connected to my candidate or
campaign of choice.

Do you go online to use the Internet, at least occasionally?

Do you ever use online social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook?

ASK INTERNET USERS WHO GET ANY NEWS ONLINE ([Q31=1 OR Q32=1] AND
Q22E=1,2) [N=639]: Q.34 Thinking about news websites and other sources of
campaign information online Please name some of the websites where you get
information about the presidential campaigns and candidates?

When you use the internet, do you ever come across campaign news and
information when you may have been going online for a purpose other than to get
the news?

Have you sent or received e-mails about the candidates or campaigns with friends,
family or other personal acquaintances, or not?

Have you received e-mails about the candidates or campaigns from any groups or
political organizations, or not?

Have you gotten any campaign or candidate information from (INSERT ITEM;
ROTATE), or not?
a. Websites set up by the candidates themselves
b. a. Websites set up by the candidates themselves

Have you gotten any campaign or candidate information on social networking sites
like Facebook or MySpace, or not?

Have you signed up as a friend of any candidates on a social networking site, or

not?

Have you watched any [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE] on the internet, or not?

a.
b.
c.
d.

Video of the candidate debates

b. Video of interviews with candidates
c. Campaign commercials
d. Video of candidate speeches or announcements

Thinking about all the news, blogs, and political websites on the INTERNET, on
balance, do more websites favor Democrats, do more favor Republicans, or are
there about equal numbers on both sides?

We are interested in what some people do as the election nears. In the past 30
days, have you encouraged anyone to vote for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney in any
of the following ways?
Talking with them face-to-face 54% 45% 1% 1%
Talking with them on the telephone 25% 73% 1% 1%
Sending them an email 12% 86% * 1% 1%
Sending them a text message 10% 88% * 1% 1%
Posting on a social networking site 20% 77% * 1% 2% such as Facebook or Twitter

And have any of your FAMILY MEMBERS or FRIENDS encouraged YOU to vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? Again in the past 30 days, have any of your family
or friends encouraged you to vote for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney by [INSERT
ITEMS IN ORDER]? [IF YES: Have you been encouraged to vote for Obama, Romney,
or both?]

Even if you didnt encourage people to vote one way or the other, have you let
other people know who you voted for, or who you plan to vote for, in this years
election by posting that information on a social networking site such as Facebook or
Twitter?