Poll: Youth In Sync With Adults

In a recent CBS News poll, 43 percent of all adults 18 and older said troops should stay in Iraq long as it takes.

As it is with most Americans, younger people's views of the war's impact on U.S. safety is mixed. They do not seem to feel that a terrorist attack is very likely.

More than one-third think the war has helped abate some of the terror threat to the nation; the same number of young people as adults think the war has had no impact at all. About one in five says it has actually made the U.S. less safe than it was before.

A majority of young Americans think another terrorist attack in the U.S. is not very likely soon.

In September of 2004, younger Americans ages 18 to 29 were more worried about a terror attack, with 59% believing another attack was very or somewhat likely.

Asked to pick from a list of possible reasons why they think President Bush went to war with Iraq, young Americans cite oil interests, the President's perceived desire to finish something his father started and protecting the U.S. from terrorism. These views are similar to the reasons volunteered by all Americans in the most recent CBS News/ New York Times Poll.

Young Americans are less likely to see President Bush's motivation as finding weapons of mass destruction, or freeing the Iraqis from a dictatorship.

What Is The Main Reason President Bush Went To War In Iraq?

Oil

26%
To finish what his dad started

25%
To protect United States from terrorism

22%
To protect U.S. from weapons of mass destruction

14%
To free the Iraqi people

10%

Like all Americans, young people give President Bush low marks and distrust the government in general

More than half of Americans aged 14 to 24 disapprove of the overall job George W. Bush is doing as president and they also give him low marks on his handling of specific issues. This group gives their lowest rating to the President on his handling of Iraq.

Thirty-eight percent of those ages 14 to 24 approve of the job Bush is doing as president; 53 percent disapprove.

These ratings are similar to those given the President by adults nationwide.

In the latest CBS News/New York Times poll, 40 percent of Americans overall approved of Bush's job as President, while 53 percent disapproved.

In the Fall of 2004, Americans ages 18 to 29 gave President Bush a 44 percent approval rating.

President Bush's Overall Job Rating

Approve
Young Americans ages 14 to 24, now

38%
All adult Americans, CBS News/NY Times Poll, 12/2005

40%

Disapprove
Young Americans ages 14 to 24, now

53%
All adult Americans, CBS News/NY Times Poll, 12/2005

53%

Forty-six percent of 14- to 24-year-olds approve of the president's handling of terrorism — his highest rating.

Thirty-three percent approve of his handling of the economy

Just 32 percent approve of Bush's handling of the war in Iraq.