GW News Center

07/26/07 09:30 AM - 11:00 AM

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Racine Tucker-Hamilton; (301) 922-8417; rthmedia@comcast.net

Tracy Schario; (202) 994-3566; tschario@gwu.edu

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

GW-BATTLEGROUND 2008 POLL RESULTS TO BE RELEASED

July 26, 2007

Survey Takes Comprehensive Look at Current Political Environment and a Look Ahead at 2008

EVENT: The George Washington University Battleground Poll will explore public perceptions about the 2008 presidential elections, Congressional incumbents, and voter cynicism.

WHO: Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, and Brian Tringali, partner at the Tarrance Group, will share their analysis of this public opinion poll. Christopher Arterton, dean of GW's Graduate School of Political Management, will serve as moderator.

WHEN: Thursday, July 26, 2007, 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: National Press Club

Holeman Lounge, 13th floor

529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C.

Metro Center Metro (Orange, Blue, and Red lines)

RSVP: This event is open to media. Please contact Racine Tucker Hamilton at (301) 922-8417 or rthmedia@comcast.net to RSVP. A copy of Lake and Tringali?s presentation will be posted at http://www.gwu.edu/~newsctr/battleground.cfm.

BACKGROUND:

Republican Pollster Brian Tringali and Democratic Pollster Celinda Lake conducted a national survey of 1,000 likely voters July 15-18, 2007, which yielded a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. In some potential 2008 Presidential match-ups, this poll found Giuliani (49%) leading Clinton (44%), and Fred Thompson (46%) and Clinton (46%) tied. Obama (52%) leading Giuliani (42%), and Obama (56%) leading Fred Thompson (35%). The survey will also provide insights into diverse areas like the direction of the country, current generic ballots, top issues of concern, congressional approval, presidential approval, issue handling, attitudes about the war in Iraq, attitudes about the economy, views about the major 2008 candidates, and attitudes about cynicism in politics and government. The poll also found a remarkable level of cynicism about Washington as 71% of likely voters believe that their Member of Congress puts partisan politics ahead of them.

The George Washington University is the sponsor of the GW-Battleground Poll, a highly regarded, bi-partisan election survey conducted by top polling firms The Tarrance Group and Lake Research Partners. GW's role in the poll is guided by the University's Graduate School of Political Management, which is celebrating its 20th year as the nation's first university-level program in applied politics. The University was recognized as the "Hottest School for Political Junkies" in the Kaplan/Newsweek How to Get Into College guide (2003 and 2005).

Initiated in June 1991, the GW-Battleground Polls have gained widespread media recognition as reliable, leading indicators of national opinion and voters' intentions. This national polling program is unique to the industry, because it offers the distinct perspectives of two top pollsters from different sides of the political aisle. This is the 32nd poll conducted by Lake Research Partners and the Tarrance Group.

GW-Battleground Poll data is available at www.tarrance.com, www.lakeresearch.com, or www.gwu.edu/~newsctr/battleground.cfm.

The GW-Battleground Poll archives since 1991 are at GW's Gelman Library and can be accessed at http://aladinrc.wrlc.org/handle/1961/2000.

For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.

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