In fact, a poll released a week before the disaster showed that more people believe the military's primary role should be rescue work than defense.
Perdue ran slightly behind her opponent in polls released the week before the election.
Polls released tonight suggested, however, that Mr. Clinton's support had begun to fall again.
A poll released soon after found that 88 percent of Alabamians supported Moore.
The poll was released last Thursday, the same day a fund-raising letter turned up in which the governor warned that his campaign was in "crisis."
For Mr. Bloomberg, the new polls released this week hint at plenty of weaknesses and opportunities.
A similar poll released later that month by CNN found that 72 percent of Americans support the idea.
A poll released a week ago by Quinnipiac showed Mr. Kerry with a four-point lead.
A Field Poll released this week said only a third of voters indicated they were inclined to vote for Mr. Schwarzenegger should he run again.
A poll released less than two weeks after Winfrey campaigned found Obama achieving more popularity in Iowa than ever before recorded.