Fear Of Terrorism Lifts Donald Trump In New York Times/CBS Poll

Americans are more fearful about the likelihood of another terrorist attack than at any other time since the weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, a gnawing sense of dread that has helped lift Donald Trump to a new high among Republican primary voters, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

In the aftermath of attacks by Islamic extremists in Paris and in San Bernardino, California, a plurality of the public views the threat of terrorism as the top issue facing the country. A month ago, only 4 percent of Americans said terrorism was the most important problem; now, 19 percent say it is, above any other issue.

Trump, who has called for monitoring mosques and even barring Muslims from entering the United States, has been the clear beneficiary of this moment of deep anxiety. More than 4 in 10 Republican primary voters say the quality most important to them in a candidate is strong leadership, which eclipses honesty, empathy, experience or electability. These voters heavily favor Trump.

The survey was largely conducted before Trump's proposal, announced Monday, to temporarily block Muslims from entering the country.

"He'll keep a sharp eye on those Muslims," Bettina Norden, 60, a farmer in Springfield, Oregon, said in a follow-up interview. "He'll keep the Patriot Act together. He'll watch immigration. Stop the Muslims from immigrating."

Forty-four percent of the public says an attack is "very" likely to happen in the next few months, the most in Times or CBS News polls since October 2001, just after the deadliest terrorist assault in the country's history. Seven in 10 Americans now call the Islamic State extremist group a major threat to the United States' security, the highest level since the Times/CBS News poll began asking the question last year.

The public has little faith in President Barack Obama's handling of terrorism and the threat from the Islamic State. Fifty-seven percent of Americans disapprove of his handling of terrorism, and 7 in 10 say the fight against the Islamic State is going badly.

Just 24 percent say the country is headed in the right direction, the lowest figure in a Times or CBS News survey in more than two years.