Washingtonpost.com: Post-ABC Poll

Post-ABC News August 1998 Poll Results

Sunday, August 23, 1998

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll is based on random telephone interviews with 1,015 adults on August 19 through August 21. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For analysis of this poll, see The Post's August 23 story.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as president?

           ------Approve-----------    -------Disapprove--------   No
           NET   Strongly   Somewhat    NET   Somewhat   Strongly  opin.
8/21/98     66     41         25         31      10        21        3
7/12/98     63     34         29         31      11        20        6
6/18/98     59     NA         NA         34      NA        NA        7
6/2/98      61     NA         NA         34      NA        NA        5
5/12/98     64     NA         NA         32      NA        NA        4
4/4/98      65     NA         NA         31      NA        NA        4
4/1/98      66     NA         NA         29      NA        NA        4
3/17/98     66     NA         NA         30      NA        NA        4
3/16/98     63     NA         NA         34      NA        NA        3
2/18/98     67     NA         NA         30      NA        NA        3
1/31/98     67     42         24         29      10        19        4
1/30/98     69     NA         NA         27      NA        NA        4
1/29/98     68     NA         NA         27      NA        NA        5
1/26/98     60     NA         NA         35      NA        NA        4
1/25/98     59     31         28         37      13        25        4
1/24/98     57     30         26         40      13        27        3
1/19/98     60     24         36         35      15        19        5
1/13/98     62     NA         NA         31      NA        NA        7
11/12/97    59     NA         NA         35      NA        NA        6
10/13/97    59     NA         NA         36      NA        NA        6
8/27/97     58     NA         NA         37      NA        NA        5
7/8/97      64     NA         NA         31      NA        NA        5
6/8/97      59     NA         NA         36      NA        NA        5
4/24/97     56     NA         NA         39      NA        NA        5
3/25/97     56     NA         NA         33      NA        NA       11
3/9/97      55     NA         NA         41      NA        NA        4
10/8/96**   58     NA         NA         38      NA        NA        4
10/8/96*    59     NA         NA         37      NA        NA        4
9/4/96*     57     NA         NA         38      NA        NA        4
8/5/96      59     NA         NA         37      NA        NA        4
6/30/96     56     NA         NA         39      NA        NA        5
5/22/96     58     20         37         39      17        22        3
3/31/96     52     21         30         40      16        25        8
3/17/96     53     19         34         45      19        26        2
3/10/96     55     23         32         40      17        24        4
4/21/96     51     NA         NA         43      NA        NA        6
1/7/96      53     22         31         43      16        28        4
11/19/95    54     NA         NA         41      NA        NA        5
11/13/95    54     20         34         41      20        21        5
10/1/95     52     17         35         43      19        24        5
7/17/95     51     14         37         45      20        25        4
6/8/95      47     NA         NA         45      NA        NA        8
5/14/95     56     20         36         41      23        18        3
3/19/95     52     17         35         45      19        26        3
3/5/95      46     NA         NA         49      NA        NA        4
1/29/95     54     20         34         43      21        22        3
1/4/95      45     13         31         51      22        29        5
12/20/94    44     NA         NA         50      NA        NA        6
11/6/94*    52     20         32         43      16        26        5
10/31/94    48     17         31         49      19        30        3
10/23/94    49     18         31         48      19        29        4
10/9/94     45     13         32         51      21        30        4
9/25/94     44     13         31         51      20        31        5
9/11/94     46     15         30         51      19        33        3
8/16/94     44     NA         NA         51      NA        NA        5
8/7/94      47     17         31         47      20        27        5
6/26/94     50     16         34         44      17        28        6
5/15/94     51     19         32         44      17        28        4
3/27/94     57     23         34         41      16        25        3
3/22/94     47     NA         NA         45      NA        NA        7
3/08/94     52     NA         NA         40      NA        NA        8
2/27/94     58     20         38         38      15        23        4
1/23/94     56     22         34         34      14        20       10
1/9/94      59     20         39         36      15        21        4
12/19/93    58     22         36         40      20        20        3
11/14/93    49     16         33         45      20        25        6
10/31/93    52     17         35         41      17        24        7
10/10/93    51     20         31         43      18        25        5
10/3/93     52     19         33         36      14        22       12
9/19/93     51     NA         NA         41      NA        NA        8
8/8/93      45     16         29         51      19        32        4
6/28/93     43     13         29         50      19        31        7
6/15/93     45     NA         NA         48      NA        NA        7
5/23/93     46     17         30         48      18        30        6
4/26/93     59     22         37         39      17        21        2
2/28/93     60     28         32         33      11        22        7
2/23/93     63     28         35         30      11        19        7
2/14/93     54     23         31         31      15        16       15
*Among registered voters
**Among likely voters

2. Do you think things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?


                Right      Wrong     No
               Direction   Track   Opinion
8/21/98          57         40        4
7/12/98          50         45        6
4/4/98           55         41        4
1/31/98          61         34        5
1/30/98          61         34        5
1/19/98          44         50        6
8/27/97          39         57        4
6/8/97           37         60        3
3/9/97           34         62        4
10/17/96*        40         55        5
10/16/96*        42         53        5
10/15/96*        43         52        5
10/14/96*        44         51        5
10/13/96*        44         51        5
9/04/96*         40         54        6
8/21/96          28         67        5
6/30/96          26         70        5
3/17/96          27         70        3
1/21/96          27         66        6
1/3/96           21         77        3
4/5/95           23         73        3
1/4/95           27         68        6
10/31/94         27         69        4
7/20/94          26         70        4
3/27/94          28         69        3
1/23/94          31         60       10
11/14/93         25         69        6
8/8/93           26         71        3
6/20/93          26         71        3
4/26/93          27         71        2
3/11/93          36         57        7
2/28/93          37         59        4
1/17/93          31         63        6
12/14/92         35         60        5
10/27/92*        22         76        2
10/4/92*         18         78        4
6/7/92           14         83        3
4/9/92           16         81        3
3/11/92          18         79        4
1/15/92          19         78        3
11/10/91         24         72        4
10/29/91         26         71        3
8/27/91          31         60        9
7/28/91          30         67        3
6/2/91           39         57        4
4/9/91           42         51        7
2/26/91          58         39        3
1/27/91          49         48        4
10/14/90         19         79        2
9/9/90           36         60        4
8/20/90          35         60        5
7/24/90          37         60        2
5/21/90          39         60        2
3/26/90          44         53        2
2/4/90           49         48        3
1/16/90          48         49        3
5/23/89          42         55        3
3/16/89          46         52        2
1/16/89**        51         46        3
10/25/88*        49         46        6
9/27/88          48         44        8
7/11/88          40         56        4
5/25/88          35         59        6
3/21/88          40         56        4
1/23/88          39         59        2
12/13/87         49         47        4
12/2/87          35         61        4
9/23/87          43         54        4
6/29/87          35         62        3
4/13/87          37         60        3
3/9/87           38         58        4
1/18/87          39         56        5
9/8/86           50         48        2
1/26/86          45         47        8
7/29/85          52         43        6
1/16/85          59         36        4
5/22/84          47         48        5
12/13/83         43         51        6
11/7/83          51         44        5
4/12/83          41         54        4
3/2/83           43         53        3
1/25/83          58         39        3
1/25/83          43         52        4
10/11/82         35         57        8
1/30/82          39         56        5
2/80             20         70       10
2/78             34         53       13
2/77             41         44       14
10/75            19         71        9
10/74            15         75       11
10/73            16         74       10
*Among registered voters
*Among likely voters

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Clinton is handling the nation's economy?


            Approve      Disapprove     No opinion
8/21/98        76             20              4
7/12/98        67             23             10
1/19/98        64             33              4
4/24/97        55             40              6
3/9/97         55             40              5
10/8/96*       58             39              3
8/5/96         56             41              4
6/30/96        51             45              4
3/17/96        47             49              4
1/21/96        45             48              7
11/13/95       47             48              5
10/1/95        48             48              4
7/17/95        49             48              3
3/19/95        49             47              4
1/29/95        52             46              2
1/4/95         42             54              4
12/20/94       42             53              6
10/31/94       43             52              5
10/23/94       45             51              4
9/11/94        43             53              4
8/7/94         46             50              4
6/26/94        46             48              6
5/15/94        50             45              5
3/27/94        53             42              5
2/27/94        51             43              7
1/23/94        50             38             11
1/9/94         48             44              8
12/19/93       53             44              3
11/14/93       43             50              7
10/10/93       45             50              5
9/19/93        42             51              7
8/8/93         40             55              5
6/28/93        38             57              6
5/23/93        39             55              6
4/26/93        51             46              3
2/28/93        58             35              7
2/14/93        49             28             23
*Among registered voters

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job?

                Approve        Disapprove        No opinion
8/21/98           55              39                 6
7/12/98           46              44                11
5/12/98           45              45                 9
4/4/98            47              45                 8
1/31/98           55              35                10
1/30/98           55              35                10
1/25/98           56              37                 8
1/24/98           55              38                 7
1/19/98           47              49                 5
10/13/97          36              57                 7
8/27/97           39              54                 7
7/8/97            40              53                 6
4/24/97           40              53                 7
3/9/97            35              60                 5
8/5/96            42              52                 7
6/30/96           35              58                 7
5/22/96           35              60                 5
3/10/96           30              64                 6
1/7/96            31              65                 5
11/19/95          27              68                 5
10/1/95           32              65                 3
7/17/95           34              63                 3
3/19/95           39              56                 5
1/29/95           42              52                 6
10/31/94          21              72                 8
10/23/94          18              78                 4
9/11/94           24              70                 5
6/26/94           34              61                 5
3/27/94           35              62                 3
2/27/94           32              64                 4
1/23/94           29              60                11
11/14/93          28              66                 6
8/8/93            33              64                 3
4/26/93           30              69                 2
1/17/93           29              66                 6
4/9/92            17              78                 5
3/18/92           19              76                 5
3/8/92            22              73                 6
2/2/92            32              64                 4
12/15/91          35              59                 6
10/21/91          45              50                 5
6/2/91            49              46                 5
10/14/90          34              63                 3
2/4/90            41              55                 4
1/16/90           39              55                 6
8/21/89           42              53                 5
5/23/89           54              44                 2
2/14/89           53              44                 3
1/23/88*          43              53                 4
6/1/87*           56              40                 4
6/22/85*          54              37                 9
5/83*             33              43                24
6/81*             38              40                22
6/79*             19              61                20
9/78*             29              49                22
6/77*             34              42                24
6/75*             29              54                17
8/74*             48              35                17
* Gallup

7. Who do you trust to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years - Clinton or the Republicans in Congress?


                                     Both equally   Neither      No
             Clinton    Republicans  (vol.)           (vol.)     opin.
8/21/98         48        38              2             9         3
7/12/98         48        38              1             6         6
5/12/98         47        39              3             8         3
1/31/98         52        35              3             4         6
1/19/98         48        40              2             8         2
3/9/97          49        38              4             8         2
1/15/97*        51        37              3             7         2
1/29/95         40        46              4             8         2
1/4/95          30        54              3             9         4
12/20/94        34        60             NA             NA        6
12/15/94        34        49              3             9         6
* "The Clinton administration"

8. I'm going to read you a few names. For each, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don't know enough to say. How about (Read name)?

Summary table:
                        Favorable   Unfavorable   No opinion
Bill Clinton               56           40             4
Al Gore                    55           30            15
Newt Gingrich              34           46            19
Monica Lewinsky            11           74            16
Kenneth Starr              31           55            14
Hillary Clinton            64           28             8
Trend:
Bill Clinton
                     Favorable    Unfavorable    No opinion
8/21/98                56            40               4
7/12/98                54            40               6
5/12/98                54            42               4
4/4/98                 55            39               6
2/18/98                56            41               3
1/31/98                60            34               6
1/30/98                60            35               6
1/25/98                54            42               5
1/24/98                51            44               5
1/19/98                59            35               6
1/12/98                59            33               7
10/13/97               59            37               4
9/10/97                57            38               5
3/9/97                 60            38               3
9/4/96*                58            38               4
6/30/96                56            38               5
10/30/95               54            41               6
7/17/95                59            38               3
6/8/95                 53            43               4
3/19/95                55            42               3
10/31/94               51            44               5
5/15/94                57            40               3
3/27/94                59            37               4
1/23/94                60            32               8
11/14/93               58            37               5
11/11/93               52            43               6
8/8/93                 56            39               5
4/26/93                59            29              12
2/23/93                59            30              11
1/17/93                68            20              11
10/18/92**             56            36               8
9/27/92**              55            36               9
8/23/92*               54            36              10
7/19/92*               58            23              18
7/8/92                 52            33              15
6/7/92                 41            38              21
3/18/92                37            37              26
3/11/92                39            31              30
2/2/92                 37            24              39
1/27/92                23            11              66
10/21/91               13             9              78
*Among registered voters
**Among likely voters
Al Gore
                  Favorable    Unfavorable    No opinion
8/21/98                55          30          15
7/12/98                54          26          20
4/4/98                 54          27          19
1/31/98                52          29          19
1/30/98                51          30          19
1/25/98                55          29          16
1/24/98                54          30          15
1/19/98                48          36          17
10/13/97               45          40          15
9/10/97                49          33          19
4/24/97                53          29          19
3/9/97                 56          29          15
3/19/95                57          27          16
10/31/94               41          37          22
5/15/94                58          27          15
3/27/94                57          25          18
11/14/93               56          28          15
8/23/92*               52          19          29
7/19/92*               55          12          33
*Among registered voters
Newt Gingrich
8/21/98                34            46         19
7/12/98                31            47         22
5/12/98                34            53         13
4/4/98                 34            43         23
1/31/98                27            46         27
1/30/98                27            46         27
1/19/98                32            49         19
9/10/97                26            52         22
4/24/97                23            59         18
9/4/96*                26            55         19
6/30/96                25            57         18
10/30/95               29            45         26
7/17/95                34            46         20
6/8/95                 32            51         18
3/19/95                31            46         23
*Among registered voters
Monica Lewinsky
8/28/98                11            74         16
7/12/98                10            61         29
4/4/98                  9            58         33
1/31/98                 7            58         36
1/30/98                 7            56         37
Kenneth Starr
8/21/98                31            55         14
7/12/98                24            53         24
4/4/98                 22            43         35
1/30/98                21            36         43
Hillary Clinton
8/19/98                64            28          8
4/4/98                 58            33         10
1/30/98                60            30         10
1/19/98                52            39          9
3/9/97                 47            44          9
9/4/96  Reg.           47            42         12
6/30/96                44            47          9
1/21/96                28            36         36
1/19/96                32            34         34
10/31/94               47            44          8
5/15/94                54            41          5
3/27/94                53            39          8
1/23/94                55            34         11
11/14/93               58            33          9
8/8/93                 59            33          8
4/26/93                54            26         20
2/23/93                59            24         18
1/17/93                51            20         29
7/8/92                 30            26         43
3/28/92                28            22         51

9.I'm going to read you some statements. After each please tell me whether or not each applies to Clinton. How about (READ ITEM) does it apply to Clinton, or not?

Summary Table:
                                                No
                                  Yes    No    opin.
A. He is honest and
   trustworthy                     28    69      2
B. He has high personal moral
   and ethical standards           19    78      3
C. He understands the problems
   of people like you              63    36      2
D. He is a strong leader           67    32      1

Trend: A. He is honest and trustworthy

               Yes    No    No opin.
8/21/98         28    69       2
7/12/98         33    60       7
5/12/98         38    59       3
4/4/98          35    58       7
3/16/98         35    60       5
2/18/98         40    55       5
6/8/97          37    59       4
1/15/97         42    54       4
1/6/97          42    53       5
11/3/96*        42    52       6
9/4/96*         43    52       5
8/5/96          44    52       4
6/30/96         40    54       6
3/17/96         44    53       2
4/5/95          42    55       2
3/27/94**       54    42       4
10/4/92*/**     44    44       3
6/7/92**        40    47      12
*Among registered voters
**Wording "and trustworthy" omitted

B. He has high personal moral and ethical standards


               Yes    No    No opinion
8/21/98         19    78       3
7/12/98         29    63       7
5/12/98         24    70       6
4/4/98          29    64       7
3/16/98         28    66       6
2/18/98         28    66       6
6/8/97          41    54       4
1/15/97         40    55       4
1/6/97          38    59       3
9/4/96*         39    56       5
8/5/96          45    51       4
6/30/96         40    54       6
3/17/96         44    54       3
4/5/95          51    46       4
10/31/94        44    49       7
*Among registered voters

C. He understands the problems of people like you


                Yes    No    No opin.
8/21/98          63    36       2
7/12/98          54    43       3
5/12/98          65    34       1
4/4/98           56    41       3
3/16/98          62    36       2
2/18/98          63    35       2
6/8/97           52    45       3
1/15/97          50    49       2
9/4/96*          57    40       2
8/5/96           55    43       2
6/30/96          56    41       3
3/17/96          55    43       1
6/8/95           51    45       3
3/19/95          55    43       2
3/5/95           50    49       2
10/31/94**       48    50       2
10/23/94**       44    54       1
6/26/94          52    46       2
3/27/94**        63    35       2
1/23/94          55    39       5
4/26/93          60    39       1
1/17/93          76    20       4
10/4/92*/**      67    28       6
10/4/92*/**      67    27       6
6/7/92*          59    33       8
4/9/92           49    42       9
*Among registered voters
**"understands the needs and problems of average Americans"

D. He is a strong leader


               Yes    No    No opin.
8/21/98         67    32        1
7/12/98         59    38        2
4/4/98          62    36        2
3/16/98         63    36        1
2/18/98         68    31        1
3/17/96         50    49        1
6/8/95          37    61        2
3/5/95          38    61        1
10/31/94        43    56        1
8/16/94         41    58        1
3/27/94         54    44        2
10/4/92         50    36       14
6/7/92          40    46       14
10/4/92*        50    36       14
6/7/92          40    46       14
*Among registered voters

10. Do you think Clinton is more honest than most recent presidents, less honest, or what?


               More      Less     About the       No
              honest    honest    same (vol.)   opinion
8/21/98         23        43          31           3
7/12/98         20        44          32           4
3/27/94         40        25          34           1

11. Overall, which party, the Democrats or the Republicans, do you trust to do a better job in coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years?

                                    Both   Neither     No
         Democrats    Republicans   (vol.)  (vol.)     opin.
8/21/98     48            36          4       9        3
7/12/98     45            38          3       8        6
1/31/98     47            37          4       6        7
1/19/98     45            42          2       7        4
7/8/97      44            37          2      14        3
9/15/96*    45            38          3      11        3
8/5/96      43            38          3      11        3
6/30/96     46            37          3      12        3
5/22/96     47            38          3      10        3
11/6/94*    41            39          2      12        6
10/31/94    43            43          2       8        4
10/23/94    39            40          3      15        3
9/11/94     43            40          4      11        3
6/26/94     41            36          3      14        5
2/27/94     46            32          4      16        3
11/14/93    42            39          3      11        4
1/17/93     49            28          5      13        5
7/8/92      48            38          1       8        4
6/7/92      43            37          3      11        6
3/11/92     45            37          1      11        5
3/8/92      51            36          1       7        5
2/2/92      49            39          2       7        3
12/15/91    39            37          3      15        6
10/21/91    39            40          3      13        5
*Among registered voters

12. (and 13) Thinking about the U.S. House of Representatives election in November, 1998 in the Congressional District where you live, if that election were being held today, for whom would you vote: the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate?

Registered voters, net leaned:
                                     Neither   Wouldn't
                 Democrat Republican (vol.)    vote (vol.)  No opin.
8/21/98             48        45        3         1           3
7/12/98             47        45        2         #           6
1/31/98             49        40        2         1           8
1/19/98             47        44        3         1           5
11/96 ACTUAL        50        50
10/8/96             51        41        2         1           5
9/29/96             48        41        3         1           7
9/22/96             50        43        2         1           4
9/15/96             49        45        1         1           4
9/4/96              48        44        3         *           5
8/29/96             53        39        3         1           5
8/28/96             51        40        3         1           5
8/27/96             51        41        3         0           5
8/26/96             51        41        3         0           5
8/25/96             48        43        3         1           6
8/24/96             47        43        2         1           6
8/19/96             49        42        3         0           6
8/18/96             45        46        3         0           6
8/15/96             46        43        4         1           5
8/14/96             48        42        3         1           6
8/13/96             49        43        3         0           5
8/12/96             49        42        3         1           5
8/11/96             49        40        4         1           6
8/10/96             49        41        4         1           5
8/4/96              48        45        2         1           4
6/30/96             49        44        3         *           3
5/22/96             52        41        3         1           3
3/10/96             51        43        2         *           4
1/21/96             52        43        3         1           1
10/1/95             49        44        3         *           3
11/94 ACTUAL        46.5      53.5
11/6/94             47        42        5         2           5
10/31/94            48        44        4         1           3
10/23/94            50        45        2         1           2
10/9/94             46        47        3         2           2
9/11/94             50        45        1         1           4
8/7/94              49        42        4         1           4
2/27/94             50        40        8         1           2
11/92 ACTUAL        51        46
10/21/91            51        41        4         *           4
7/28/91             49        41        6         *           3
6/2/91              48        42        4         1           5
11/90 ACTUAL        54        46
11/4/90             51        41        5         *           3
10/14/90            50        41        5         *           3
9/9/90              47        46        3         *           3
7/24/90             51        41        4         1           4
5/21/90             47        45        5         1           2
11/88 ACTUAL        54        46
9/21-10/10/88       52        41        2         1           4
9/19/88             51        39        3         1           6
11/86 ACTUAL        55        45
6/22/85             48        44        5         *           3
11/84 ACTUAL        53        47
10/16/84            52        44        2         NA          5
9/11/84             53        45        2         NA          1
7/8/84              58        40        2         NA          1
11/82 ACTUAL        57        43
10/27/82            58        39        NA        NA          3
10/11/82            55        36        NA        NA          9
9/13/82             58        36        NA        NA          6
11/22/81            53        41        NA        NA          7
11/80 ACTUAL        51        49
11/78 ACTUAL        54        46
11/76 ACTUAL        57        43

13a. (asked on or after 8/20) Do you approve or disapprove of the way Clinton is handling foreign affairs?


              Approve    Disapprove    No opinion
8/21/98        72             24              4
7/12/98        54             35             11
6/2/98         60             33              7
1/19/98        54             39              8
4/24/97        51             42              7
3/9/97         50             42              8
10/8/96*       58             38              4
8/5/96         54             40              6
6/30/96        52             43              5
3/17/96        51             46              4
1/21/96        51             41              8
11/13/95       54             39              7
10/1/95        49             44              7
7/17/95        40             56              4
3/19/95        44             49              8
1/4/95         44             50              5
12/20/94       40             54              7
10/31/94       54             42              4
10/23/94       50             47              4
9/11/94        37             56              7
8/7/94         39             55              6
6/26/94        41             51              8
5/15/94        40             53              7
3/27/94        50             43              7
2/27/94        50             42              8
1/23/94        54             32             14
1/9/94         45             40             15
12/19/93       49             44              7
11/14/93       39             53              8
10/12/93       37             56              7
10/10/93       41             54              5
9/19/93        55             36              9
8/8/93         49             43              9
6/28/93        52             37             11
5/23/93        53             39              8
4/26/93        57             38              5
2/28/93        63             18             19
2/14/93        54             22             24

13b. (asked on or after 8/20) Do you approve or disapprove of Clinton's decision to bomb suspected terrorist facilities in Afghanistan and the Sudan?


             Approve    Disapprove    No opinion
8/21/98        71           21             8

13c. (asked on or after 8/20) Do you think Clinton decided to carry out the attack at this particular time mainly to punish terrorist groups responsible for the US embassy bombings in Africa and disrupt their plans to carry out other terrorist acts, OR mainly to take attention away from the ongoing investigation of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky?


           punish      divert      Both      No
          terrorists  attention   (vol.)    opin.
8/21/98     62           26         6        6

13d. (asked on or after 8/20) Do you think the Lewinsky investigation is interfering with Clinton's ability to deal effectively with international terrorism and other problems around the world, or not? [If yes, ask:] Is that a lot or a little?


           -----------Yes----------
           NET    A lot    A little    No    No opinion
8/21/98    63       40         23      35         2

14. As you may know, Clinton made a speech on television Monday night in which he admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and took responsibility for it. Did you happen to watch that speech, or not?


             ------------Yes-----------
                              Seen it 
             NET    Yes     since (vol.)    No    No opinion
8/21/98      68      65          3          31         *

15. (asked of half sample) Do you think Clinton was truthful in his speech or not?

             Yes    No    No opinion
8/21/98       58    33         9

15a. (asked of half sample) Do you think Clinton was completely truthful in his speech, or not?

             Yes    No    No opinion
8/21/98       40    52         9

16. Clinton also testified Monday to a grand jury about his relationship with Lewinsky. Do you think Clinton has been completely truthful in his testimony to the grand jury, or not?


             Yes    No    No opinion
8/21/98       34    52         14

17. How did you feel when you first heard that Clinton had admitted he misled the country about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky--did you feel (READ ITEM) or not? How about (READ NEXT ITEM)?


                  Yes    No    No opinion
a. angry           33    66         1 
b. surprised       18    81         2 
c. disgusted       45    54         1 
d. sad             37    62         1 
e. relieved        39    57         4
f. bored           45    53         2
g. embarrassed     36    64         0

18. Do you feel Clinton has let the country down, or not?


            Yes    No    No opinion
8/21/98     46     53        1

20. Were you surprised by the news that Clinton did have an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky, or did this just confirm your suspicions about the relationship?


              Surprised    Confirmed suspicions    No opinion
8/21/98           14                80                  6

21. Do you think Clinton has answered all of the important questions about the Lewinsky matter, or are there still things that he needs to explain to the country?


           answered all       explain more     no opinion
8/21/98    54                        41                6

22. And do you think Clinton has apologized sufficiently for misleading the country, or do you think he needs to apologize further?


           Clinton has apologized    He needs to apologize    No
                Sufficiently                further        opinion
8/21/98              51                        47             3

23. Just your best guess - do you think Clinton did anything illegal in connection with the Lewinsky matter, or not?

              Yes    No    No opinion
8/21/98        42    52         6

24. If Starr reports to Congress that he has evidence that Clinton had an affair with Lewinsky and lied about it under oath, do you think Congress should or should not impeach Clinton and remove him from office?

           Should    Should not    No opinion
8/21/98*     35           62             3
7/12/98      39           55             7
*"As you may know, the independent council Kenneth Starr has been
investigating the Lewinsky matter�"

25. If Starr reports to Congress that he has evidence that Clinton had an affair with Lewinsky and encouraged HER to lie about it under oath, do you think Congress should or should not impeach Clinton and remove him from office?

           Should    Should not    No opinion
8/21/98      43           54            3
Compare To:
            Should be    Should not     No
            impeached   be impeached   opin.
8/16/98*       38            57          5
7/29/98*       42            57          2
7/12/98**      45            48          6
1/26/98***     51            45          4
1/25/98***     50            43          7
1/24/98***     50            44          6
1/23/98***     54            40          6
1/21/98***     43            51          6
*If Clinton suggested ways Lewinsky could conceal the affair
from investigators, and he did not resign, do you think Congress
should or should not impeach Clinton and remove him from office?
**If Starr reports to Congress that he has evidence that Clinton
had an affair with Lewinsky and encouraged her to lie about it
under oath, do you think Congress should or should not impeach
Clinton and remove him from office?
***If Clinton did tell this woman to lie in a legal document,
and if Clinton did not resign, is this something for which Clinton
should be impeached, or not?

26. If Starr reports to Congress that in addition to the Lewinsky matter, he has evidence that Clinton covered up other instances of wrongdoing in the past, do you think Congress should or should not impeach Clinton and remove him from office?

            Should    Should not    No opinion
8/21/98      52           40            7

27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Starr has handled the investigation of these charges?

            Approve    Disapprove    No opinion
8/21/98        42           53             5
7/12/98        31           57            13
4/4/98         31           51            19
2/18/98        31           54            15
1/26/98        35           41            24

28. Do you think Starr should continue his investigation or drop it?

           Continue investigation    Drop it    No opinion
8/21/98              35                  64           2
7/12/98              41                  56           4
4/1/98               48                  50           2

29. Do you think Starr is mainly interested in finding out the truth, or do you think he's mainly interested in hurting Clinton politically?

          Finding truth    Hurting Clinton politically   No opin.
8/21/98       35                      61                   5
8/19/98       38                      58                   4
7/12/98       29                      61                  10
4/4/98        32                      56                  12
2/18/98       30                      63                   7
1/26/98       30                      56                  14

31. Overall, do you think the scandal is mainly caused by Clinton's own personal conduct, or mainly due to the work of his political enemies?

         conduct      enemies    No opinion
8/21/98    52          42          6
4/4/98     48          46          6
1/30/98    43          47          10

32. How much impact do you think this scandal will have on Clinton's ability to govern? Will it have a major impact, a minor impact, or no impact?

             ------Impact---------
	      NET    Major    Minor    No impact    No opinion
8/21/98       81     32        49        17              2

Compare To: And how much impact do you think this scandal will have on Clinton's ability to govern in the future? Will it have a major impact, a minor impact, or no impact?

             ------Impact---------
             NET    Major    Minor      No impact    No opinion
4/4/98       71     25        45          26              4

Compare To: How much impact do you think this scandal will have on Clinton's ability to govern? Will it have a major impact, a minor impact, or no impact?

             ------Impact---------
            NET    Major    Minor    No impact    No opinion
1/30/98      75     28        47        23              2

33. From what you've seen of Clinton's presidency so far, do you think that in the future he will be remembered more for the accomplishments of his administration, or more for the allegations about his personal life?


              Accomplishments    Personal life    No opinion
8/21/98            23                 74              3
4/4/98             28                 68              4
1/30/98            33                 61              6

34. In its coverage of the intern story, do you think the news media has treated Clinton fairly or unfairly?

           Fairly     Unfairly     No opinion
8/21/98      55         41            4
1/31/98*     39         56            4
1/25/98      49         42            8
1/24/98      51         41            8
1/23/98      56         36            8
*ASKED ONLY OF RESPONDENTS INTERVIEWED 1/30-31

35. Do you think the media has given the intern story too much attention, too little attention, or about the right amount?

            Too much    Too little  About right    No opinion
8/21/98         76            2            21         1
1/31/98*        74            3            22         1
*ASKED ONLY OF RESPONDENTS INTERVIEWED 1/30-31

36. Do you think that Clinton owes Monica Lewinsky an apology, or not?

           Yes    No    No opinion
8/21/98    31    66         3

37. Considering everything, do you think Clinton should definitely finish out his term in office, or do you think he should consider resigning? (IF SHOULD CONSIDER RESIGNING, THEN ASK: Do you think he should resign now, or not?

                         	   --Consider resigning--
           not         NET    Now    Not Now    No opinion
     	 resign    
8/21/98     31          23     9       67            1

908. If the election for president in the year 2,000 were being held today, and the candidates were Vice President Al Gore, the democrat, and Texas Governor George W. Bush Jr., the Republican, for whom would you vote?

                          Bush,    Neither    Would not      No
                 Gore     Jr.     (vol.)    vote (vol.)    opin.
8/21/98           41      43          6           2          7
1/19/98           40      45          5           2          7
9/23/97           35      40         12           4          9

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