New York Post - March 26, 2003
APPLE SURGES IN WAR SUPPORT By RITA DELFINER
The Big Apple is profoundly split over waging war in Iraq - but more city residents are supporting the campaign since the battle began last week, a new poll has found.
And an increasing number of New Yorkers approve of President Bush's performance as commander-in-chief, the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute also reported.
The poll was done in two parts, last Tuesday and Wednesday before the U.S. launched the first airstrikes - and again last Saturday and Sunday.
It found that 47 percent of New Yorkers surveyed over the weekend voiced support for the war while 49 percent disapproved.
Before war broke out 37 percent said they would support one, while 59 percent said they were opposed.
"'Rally 'round the flag is the resounding cry heard throughout the nation. In New York City that cry is muted," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac polling institute.
"New York always marches to its own drummer, but as the images of war flash across our television screens, the city's attitudes are coming closer to the rest of the nation's."
Last weekend 45 percent of those surveyed said they approved of how Bush was handling the crisis, up from the 35 percent who supported him before the start of the war.
Over the weekend 62 percent said they believe the war increases the chance of a terrorist attack in the city - but a whopping 81 percent say they have not changed their way of life.
New Yorkers were also divided on anti-war protests. Before fighting began, 53 per cent approved them as a plea to the nation's conscience, while 32 percent said protests undermine the war effort.
Last weekend the number of New Yorkers in favor of protests dipped to 45 percent.
The first poll surveyed 654 New Yorkers on March 18 and 19 and has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.
The second poll on Saturday and Sunday, which surveyed 543 city residents, has an error margin of 4.2 percentage points.