March 2, 1999
Web posted at: 5:00 p.m. EST (2200 GMT)

WASHINGTON (March 2) -- Only about a third of the American public say they are interested in watching Monica Lewinsky's first TV interview scheduled to air Wednesday night, but they are not planning to tune in out of sympathy with the former White House intern, a new CNN/USA Today/ Gallup Poll shows.

Only a quarter of all Americans say they are sympathetic toward Lewinsky, a figure that is down significantly from the early days of the scandal. Seventy percent say they are unsympathetic toward Lewinsky.

Nonetheless, most Americans believe that President Bill Clinton is responsible for the affair taking place. Just 26 percent say Lewinsky is more responsible than Clinton.

The survey of 1,013 adult Americans was conducted February 26-28, and has a margin of sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points.

Here are the questions and results:

As you may know, an interview by Barbara Walters with Monica Lewinsky will be shown on television this coming Wednesday. Would you personally be interested in watching that television interview, or not?

Based on what you know and have seen in the news, do you feel sympathetic toward Monica Lewinsky?

Based on what you know and have seen in the news, do you feel sympathetic toward Bill Clinton?

All in all, who do you think is more responsible for the fact that the Clinton-Lewinsky affair took place?

Tuesday, March 2, 1999

• Gov. Bush announces plans for presidential exploratory committee
• RNC picks new chief of staff
• Senate report says Y2K would not pose major disruptions
• Senate report: Investigating the Impact of the Year 2000 Problem
• Federal judge may order investigation into Hubbell indictment
• Buchanan kicks off third White House bid
• Monica's big day: Will the nation tune in?
• Poll: Most people not interested in Lewinsky interview
• Justice opposes renewal of independent counsel law
• Bradley encourages lively 2000 race
• Lewinsky book already a best-seller
• Jackson mum on second White House bid
• Linda Tripp to return to Pentagon
• High court hears case of nut company that gave gifts to Espy
• Prosecutor tries to block day trips for Hinckley
• Latest Top 100: 20th century's best U.S. journalism
• Lewinsky interview could be easy money for ABC

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