Flemington, NJ, September 14, 2007 — Results of a national study among 620 Americans revealed that more than half (58%) reported they do not believe the U.S. is achieving success in Iraq after viewing segments of the president’s speech.

The study was conducted by HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO) during September 13-14, to obtain Americans’ views on President Bush’s speech regarding the war in Iraq. The participants included self-reported Republicans, Democrats and independents. To view detailed results and agreement curves, go to: www.mediacurves.com

As participants watched video segments of the president’s speech on their computer, they used their mouse to indicate levels of agreement by moving it from left to right on a continuum. Their responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals, and the mean of all responses is reported in the form of curves, which indicate levels of agreement for different segments of voters.

During the testing process, respondents were also asked a battery of pre- and post-viewing questions, which were compared to determine if their attitudes have changed as a result of watching the president’s speech.

Among the study findings:

• Prior to viewing the video segments of the president’s speech, 62% of all responders indicated that the U.S. is not achieving success in Iraq and 30% reported that the U.S. is achieving success in Iraq. After viewing segments of the speech, 58% reported that the U.S. is not achieving success in Iraq, and 32% reported that the U.S. in achieving success in Iraq.

• Among political affiliation, prior to viewing the president’s speech, 83% of Democrats reported that the U.S. is not achieving success in Iraq and 13% reported that the U.S. is achieving success, compared to 56% of Republicans who reported the U.S. is achieving success and 36% who reported the U.S. is not achieving success in Iraq. Among independents, 66% reported that the U.S. is not achieving success and 22% reported that the U.S. is achieving success in Iraq.

• After viewing the president’s speech, 79% of Democrats reported that the U.S. is not achieving success in Iraq and 12% reported that the U.S. is achieving success, compared to 61% of Republicans who reported the U.S. is achieving success and 30% who reported the U.S. is not achieving success in Iraq. Among independents, 61% reported that the U.S. is not achieving success and 26% reported that the U.S. is achieving success in Iraq.

Respondents’ emotions were also measured using the Ayer Emotion Battery (AEB), which captures the feelings of participants as they listen to or view advertising or communications.

Emotions felt most frequently were:

• The emotion felt most frequently among all respondents during segments of the  speech was skeptical (60%). Among political affiliation, the emotion felt most frequently by Democrats was skeptical (76%), compared to the emotion felt most frequently among Republicans, which was hopeful (67%). Similar to Democrats, the emotion felt most frequently among independents was skeptical (57%).

HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion are conducting these studies as part of their continuing investigation of the social, political and economic issues confronting Americans.

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the studies, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, managing partner, HCD Research, or Chris Borick, Ph.D., director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).

HCD Research is a communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.  The company's services include traditional and web-based marketing and communications research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.  Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, MCIPO is a respected source of public opinion data on local, state and national issues.