Poll: Terror attacks an ‘act of war’

Associated Press

Some poll results after Tuesday’s terror attacks. The CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll interviewed 619 adults. The ABC-Washington Post poll interviewed 608 adults. Each had an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points:

More than half, 55 percent, said they thought Tuesday’s attacks represent the beginning of a sustained terrorist campaign against the United States that will continue for several weeks. Three in 10 disagreed.

Almost nine of 10 said they considered the attacks an "act of war."

About half were very confident in President Bush’s ability to handle the situation. Another third were somewhat confident.

Nine in 10 said the attacks were the most tragic event of their lifetime.

People were about evenly divided whether it made them less willing to fly on airplanes.

People were about evenly split on whether the United States could reasonably have done more to prevent the attacks.

Nine in 10 said they had at least some confidence that the United States would find and punish those responsible, with more than half "very confident."

About nine in 10 support military action against groups or nations responsible for the attacks, even if it means getting in a war.

Nine in 10 said they prayed for the victims of the attacks, and almost everyone, 99 percent, said they watched or listened to broadcast news reports.

Four of 10 employed people said they left work early or stayed home.