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  Washington Post Poll, September 1998

Sunday, September 13, 1998

The latest Washington Post poll is based on random telephone interviews with 860 adults on September 11 through September 13. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.34 percentage points.

Clinton Job | Direction of Country | Congressional Approval | Clinton and Economy | Favorability
Clinton's Honesty/Ethics | Democrats/Republicans | Congressional Election | Impact of Scandal

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.
9/13/98     59     38         21         38       9        29        3
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
9/13/98          51         45        3
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
9/13/98        71             24              5
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
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job? 
                Approve        Disapprove        No opinion
9/13/98           56              38                 6
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
5. (Asked of half sample) 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.
9/13/98         43        37              2            12         7
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"
 6. 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               50           45             5
Newt Gingrich              35           45            21
Kenneth Starr              34           52            14
Trend:Bill Clinton
                    Favorable    Unfavorable    No opinion
9/13/98                50            45               5
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
Newt Gingrich
9/13/98                35            45              21
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
Kenneth Starr
9/13/98                34            52              14
8/21/98                31            55              14
7/12/98                24            53              24
4/4/98                 22            43              35
1/30/98                21            36              43
 7. 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                     23    74      4
B. He has high personal moral
   and ethical standards           18    77      4
C. He understands the problems
   of people like you              56    40      4
D. He is a strong leader           63    35      1
Trend:
A. He is honest and trustworthy
               Yes    No    No opin.
9/13/98         23    74       4
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
9/13/98         18    77       4
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.
9/13/98          56    40       4
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.
9/13/98         63    35        1
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
 8. (Asked of half sample who did not receive question 5) 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 equally   Neither     No
             Democrats    Republicans     (vol.)       (vol.)     opin.
9/13/98         47            35             4           10        4
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
 9. (and 10) 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:
                                     Neither   Wouldn't
                 Democrat Republican (vol.)   vote (vol.)  No opin.
9/13/98             49        43        3         1           4
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
Likely voters:
                                     Neither   Wouldn't
                 Democrat Republican (vol.)   vote (vol.)  No opin.
9/13/98             49        46        3         *           3
10/8/96             48        44        2         1           5
9/29/96             48        43        3         1           6
9/22/96             50        44        2         *           4
9/15/96             47        48        2         *           3
9/4/96              47        46        3         *           4
8/29/96             53        39        3         0           5
8/28/96             49        41        3         0           6
8/27/96             50        43        3         0           5
8/26/96             49        43        3         0           5
8/25/96             46        45        3         0           5
8/24/96             45        46        2         0           6
8/19/96             47        45        2         0           6
8/18/96             45        47        3         0           5
8/15/96             46        44        4         1           5
8/14/96             46        44        3         1           6
8/13/96             47        45        3         0           5
8/12/96             48        44        3         0           5
8/11/96             48        41        5         0           6
8/10/96             47        43        4         1           5
8/4/96              48        46        1         1           4
10/23/94            49        47        1         *           2
10/9/94             47        49        3         1           1
11/4/90             52        41        5         *           3
10/14/90            48        43        5         0           3
9/9/90              47        45        3         *           4
7/24/90             52        40        4         *           3
10/16/84            51        45        2         NA          4
9/11/84             51        46        1         NA          1
7/8/84              54        44        2         NA          *
10/27/82            59        39        NA        NA          2
10/11/82            55        38        NA        NA          7
 11. 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? 
           Clinton has answered    Still things he needs       No
           important questions      to explain to country    opinion
9/13/98             57                        39                5
8/21/98             54                        41                6
12. 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
9/13/98              61                        35             4
8/21/98              51                        47             3
13. Just your best guess - do you think Clinton did anything illegal in connection with the Lewinsky matter, or not? 
              Yes    No    No opinion
9/13/98        53    42         5
8/21/98        42    52         6
14. As you may know, the independent counsel Kenneth Starr has delivered a report to Congress summarizing his investigation of the Lewinsky matter. Based on what you know or have heard, do you think Congress should or should not impeach Clinton and remove him from office? 
         Impeach Clinton    Should not impeach Clinton   No opinion
9/13/98         30                      64                    6
14a. Do you feel strongly about that or not? 
Impeach:
          Yes    No    No opinion
9/13/98    89    11          1
Should not impeach:
          Yes    No    No opinion
9/13/98    87    13          1
14/14a NET
           --Impeach Clinton--    --Should not impeach--     No 
           NET   Strng    Not     NET     Strng     Not    opinion
9/13/98     30     26       3      64      56        8        6
Compare To: 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..." Also Compare To: 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? 15. Based on what you know or have heard, do you think Clinton should resign from office, or not? 

          Should resign    Should not resign    No opinion
9/13/98         39                58                  3
16. Regardless of how you feel about impeachment or resignation, do you think Congress should or should not censure of officially reprimand Clinton for his actions in the Lewinsky matter? 
          Yes    No    No opinion
9/13/98    57    38         5
Compare To: Do you think Congress should or should not censure or officially reprimand Clinton for his actions in the Lewinsky matter? 
         Should censure    Should not censure    No opinion
9/11/98*         67              26                    8
9/9/98*          66              29                    4
8/23/98*         55              40                    5
*ABC News
17. How much trust do you have in Democrats and Republicans in Congress to consider the case against Clinton in a fair and objective way: a lot of trust, some, a little, or none at all? 

         --A lot of trust/Some--   --A little/None at all--      No
          NET     A lot    Some     NET    Little    None    opinion
9/13/98   53       17       36       45      27       18         2
18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Starr has handled the investigation of these charges? 
            Approve    Disapprove    No opinion
9/13/98        40           56             4
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
19. From what you've seen or heard about the Starr report, would you say the evidence that Clinton did something seriously wrong is stronger than you expected, weaker than you expected, or about what you expected? 
           Stronger    Weaker    What was expected    No opinion
9/13/98        21        11             62                 6
20. Do you think the Starr report presents too much unnecessary detail about Clinton's sexual encounters with Lewinsky, or do you think these details were necessary to Starr's case? 

         Too much    Details were    Don't know        No
          detail      Necessary      enough (vol.)   opinion
9/13/98     61            31              5             2
21. 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
9/13/98       79     49       30        18              3
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
22. Just your best guess, do you think Clinton will serve out the rest of his term, or do you think he will leave office through resignation or impeachment? 
          Serve out term    Leave office    No opinion
9/13/98         69               27              4

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