VAR CF9096 REP PRES CAND- 7PT LIBERAL/CONSERV SCALE COLUMNS 837 - 837 NUMERIC MD EQ 0 OR GE 8 We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here is a 7-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place <the Republican Presidential Candidate> on this scale? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE-- REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE'SRATING 7- POINT SCALE ------------------------------------------------------------------- USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B. In 1972 respondents in mail sample were not asked this question. In 1980, this variable appeared in both Pre and Post; the pre-election variable is presented here. This variable referred to Nixon in 1972, Ford in 1976, Reagan in 1980 and 1984, Bush in 1988 and 1992, and Dole in 1996. NO SELF-PLACEMENT INAPS 1972-1980: If R replied DK or "haven't thought much about it" in rating self on same 7-point scale, then R was not asked this question. [Note that in 1972-1982 there was no follow-up question ('if you had to choose.') for self-rating.] NO SELF-PLACEMENT INAPS 1984,1988,1992: If R's self-placement was NA on the 7-point scale, then this question was not asked. If R replied "haven't thought much about it" or DK to this same 7-point scale, then R was prompted, 'If you had to choose...' If R's response to the follow-up in 1984-1992 was DK, RF or NA, then R was not asked this question. In 1996, randomization occurred for the order of the 3 major Presidential candidate names for this placement. 1. EXTREMELY LIBERAL 2. LIBERAL 3. SLIGHTLY LIBERAL 4. MODERATE; MIDDLE OF ROAD 5. SLIGHTLY CONSERVATIVE 6. CONSERVATIVE 7. EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE 8. DK 9. NA; INAP, mail questionnaire; no post IW (1972); question not used 0. R did not rate self on same 7-point scale (see above) 1972: 653 1976: 3287 1980: 269 1984: 371 1988: 232 1992: 3514 1996: 960371 ==============================