May 25, 1999
Web posted at: 6:33 p.m. EDT (2233 GMT)

WASHINGTON (May 25) -- President Bill Clinton's approval rating has dropped seven points in the last two weeks amid growing opposition to the NATO airstrikes in Kosovo, a new CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll show.

Clinton's approval rating, now at 53 percent, is the lowest of his second term.

The number of Americans who oppose U.S. participation in NATO airstrikes, 47 percent, is the highest since those attacks began.

According to the new poll, the number of Americans who are confident in Clinton's ability to handle the situation in Kosovo has dropped from 66 percent in March to 57 percent now.

The public does not want the U.S. and NATO to end the airstrikes permanently, making no further effort to help the Kosovar refugees. Rather, 82 percent favor a temporary halt to the airstrikes while the U.S. and NATO attempted to resolve the matter through negotiations and other means.

Opposition to sending U.S. ground troops to Kosovo if the airstrikes are not effective in achieving U.S. objectives has remained steady, at 57 percent, since late April.

Clinton's lower approval ratings are matched by the public's view of congressional Democrats as well. When asked whether the country would be better off if the Republicans or Democrats controlled Congress, Americans currently split evenly, with 37 percent picking the Democrats and 36 percent choosing the GOP.

Last December, during a low point for the GOP caused by the impeachment of Clinton, only 30 percent picked the GOP, while 41 percent chose the Democrats. It is difficult to tell whether the Cox report on Chinese espionage was responsible for any part of the drop in Clinton's ratings, since the issue of Chinese spying has just begun to hit the public radar.

The poll was conducted May 23-24 and included interviews with 1,050 adult Americans. The polls sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points, unless otherwise noted.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job?

As you may know, the military alliance of Western countries called NATO has launched air and missile attacks against Serbian military targets in Yugoslavia. Do you favor or oppose the United States being a part of that military action?

How confident are you in President Clinton's ability to handle the situation in Kosovo -- very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?

As you may know, the NATO countries participating in the attack on Yugoslavia have a number of options right now. For each of the following possible options, please say whether you would approve or disapprove if the United States and NATO decided to take that course of action today.

If the U.S. and NATO were to temporarily suspend the airstrikes and attempt to resolve the matter through negotiations and other means.

If the U.S. and NATO were to permanently end all military action and make no further effort to help the refugees return to Kosovo.

If the current NATO air and missile strikes are not effective in achieving the United States' objectives in Kosovo, would you favor or oppose President Clinton sending U.S. ground troops into the region along with troops from other NATO countries?

If the current NATO air and missile strikes are not effective in achieving the United States' objectives in Kosovo, would you favor or oppose President Clinton sending U.S. ground troops into the region along with troops from other NATO countries?

Do you think the country would be better off if the Republicans controlled Congress, or if the Democrats controlled Congress?

Gun control

In the wake of the shooting in a Georgia high school, the new poll indicates the number of Americans who believe that a similar incident could occur in their communities has grown, but the number who think that firearms laws should be made more strict has not.

After the Littleton, Colorado shooting in April, 68 percent of those questioned said that it was very likely or fairly likely that a similar shooting could occur in their community. Now, 74 percent think such an incident is likely to occur.

Also after Littleton, the number of Americans who favored stricter firearms laws rose from 60 percent to 66 percent. Now, 65 percent believe that laws covering the sale of firearms should be made stricter.

Support for gun control appears high, but it may not translate into votes for Democrats in the next election. Even though 65 percent of all Americans favor stricter firearms laws, only 42 percent of the public says that the Democratic party better reflects their views on gun control. Thirty-nine percent say the GOP reflects their views on this issue.

In addition, just 17 percent of gun control supporters say that they will only vote for a candidate who shares their views on gun control. Sixty-nine percent of gun control supporters say that the issue will be only one of many they will consider when they vote, leaving the likelihood that they may vote for a candidate who disagrees with them on gun control.

In your opinion, how likely is it that these kinds of shootings could happen in you community, is it very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely?

In general, do you feel that the laws covering the sale of firearms should be made more strict, less strict or kept as they are now?

In general, do you feel that the laws covering the sale of firearms should be made more strict, less strict or kept as they are now?

Which party do you think can do a better job of reflecting your views about gun control?

China human rights

A CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll taken May 21-23, shows more than two-thirds of the 925 adult American surveyed say that the Chinese government does a bad job of respecting the human rights of its citizens, but the public is split over whether the U.S. should link human rights to its trading policy.

Sixty-nine percent of those questioned say that China does a bad job when it comes to human rights, only 21 percent say that the government does a good job respecting human rights in China.

But 45 percent say that the U.S. should not link human rights issues with U.S.-China trade policy, while 46 percent disagree, saying that the U.S. should link human rights to trade.

How would you rate the job the government of China does in respecting the human rights of its citizens?

Which of the following statements comes closer to your views:

1. The United States should link human rights issues in China with U.S.-China trade policy, even if doing so hurts U.S. economic interests.

2. The United States should not link human rights issues in China with U.S.-China trade policy because doing so might hurt U.S. economic interests?

Presidential pay

Nearly two-thirds of the public opposes a proposal to raise the salary of the next president of the United States from $200,000 to $400,000. Only 35 percent approve of doubling the president's salary. Should the next first lady (or first husband) get a salary? According to a poll take May 21-23, 69 percent say "no," the next president's spouse should not be paid a salary for her or his official duties.

As you may know, there is a proposal to raise the pay for the resident of the United States after Clinton leaves office from $200,000 to $400,000 per year. Do you think Congress should or should not approve this pay raise?

As you may know, the spouse of the president has traditionally not received a government salary. Do you think starting with the next president, that the first lady or first husband should or should not be paid a salary

Tuesday, May 25, 1999

• Bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill over China spying report
• Clinton to continue engagement of China despite espionage report
• If Clinton stumbles, Gore may pay the price in 2000
• Poll: Americans want temporary halt to airstrikes
• GOP: House won't consider juvenile crime bill until mid-June
• Starr won't retry McDougal or Steele
• Huang charged with single finance felony count
• First lady helps Nita Lowey raise $1 million
• Gore courts female voters for 2000
• Bush, other Republican candidates criticize Clinton over China espionage
• IRS chief testifies on collections
• GOP scrapes for extra money as spending bills begin moving
• Former Louisiana governor's grandson missing on Oregon hiking trip
• Senate votes to exonerate two American commanders
• House backs center for missing kids
• Mrs. Reagan, Thatcher praise McCain
• Hyde outlines plan for gun controls in juvenile crime bill
• Senator won't block Summers nomination
• New Hampshire House passes Martin Luther King holiday bill
• Clintons head for relaxation among the wildlife
• Bradley to offer gun control plan
• Bradley campaigning against Gore
• Gingrich says GOP shouldn't be gloomy about 2000 prospects
• D.C. tuition bill advances to Senate
• Supreme Court justices took 100 free trips in 1998
• Senate hits criminals' profits
• Arbitrators hear testimony to decide Zapruder film's value
• Customs Service reforms target misconduct, official says

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