Poll: Clinton on top as Starr maps Clinton investigation
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, November 20) -- Public support for President Bill Clinton held firm Thursday as Independent Counsel Ken Starr laid out his case in Day One of impeachment proceedings.
A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted during Starr's almost 12 hours of testimony to the House Judiciary Committee revealed that the majority of people opposed impeachment of the president and had an unfavorable view of Starr.
In the first taste of public sentiment over the proceedings, most people who watched the testimony or heard about them felt the committee had accomplished nothing worthwhile.
Clinton's job approval rating came in at 62 percent - a level it has hovered at for several weeks.
The poll was developed after interviewing 652 adult Americans between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday as the committee hearing was still in progress. It does not reflect later questioning of Starr by White House lawyer David Kendall.
Starr wins points
Starr gets relatively good marks from those who actually watched the hearing Thursday - 26 percent said he did an excellent job presenting his report and another 41 percent said he did a good job.
The public was split over whether his account of Clinton's actions were fair or unfair.
Nonetheless, a majority of those polled (including a majority of those who watched the afternoon's hearings) continue to disapprove of how Starr handled his investigation.
There also appears to be growing cross-party support in terms of how the Republicans and Democrats have handled the investigation.
Since weekend polling, support for how the Republicans are handling the Clinton investigation has jumped from 31 percent to 41 percent.
Democratic support has jumped from 44 percent to 48 percent.
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Clinton Job Approval Rating
Now 62%
Nov. 13-15 66
Oct. 6-7 63
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
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Question 1: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President?
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Should Your U.S. Representative
Vote To Impeach Clinton?
Now Nov. 13-15
Yes 35% 31%
No 62 66
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Should Your U.S. Representative
Vote To Impeach Clinton?
Yes No
Now 35% 62%
Nov. 13-15 31 66
Oct. 9-12 34 62
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
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Question 2: As you may know, removing a President from office involves two major steps in Congress. First, the House of Representatives must vote on whether there is enough evidence to bring a president to trial before the Senate. This step is called impeachment. Next, the Senate must vote on whether to remove the president from office or not. What would you want your member of the House of Representatives to do -- vote in favor of impeaching Clinton and sending the case to the Senate for trial, or vote against impeachment of Clinton?
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Opinion of Ken Starr
Now Oct. 9-12
Favorable 35% 31%
Unfavorable 54 60
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Opinion of Henry Hyde
Now Oct. 9-12
Favorable 25% 35%
Unfavorable 19 23
Unsure 56 42
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Opinion of Bill Clinton
Now Oct. 9-12
Favorable 52% 54%
Unfavorable 46 43
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
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Question 3: Next I'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please favorable or unfavorable person, or if you have never heard of him.
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
How Starr Is Handling
Clinton Investigation
Now Nov. 13-15
Approve 35% 31%
Disapprove 58 63
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
How GOP in Congress Is Handling
Clinton Investigation
Now Nov. 13-15
Approve 41% 31%
Disapprove 51 62
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
How Democrats in Congress Are
Handling Clinton Investigation
Now Nov. 13-15
Approve 48% 44%
Disapprove 42 46
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
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Question 4: Do you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following is handling the current investigation into the charges against Bill Clinton?
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Starr Testimony
Saw on TV 38%
Heard about it 6
Not heard about it 56
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
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Question 5: As you may know, Independent Counsel Ken Starr testified today before the congressional committee investigating whether Bill Clinton should be impeached. Did you happen to see any coverage of those hearings on television today, or not?
Question 6: (IF DID NOT SEE ON TV): Have you heard or read anything today about what happened in today's hearings, or not?
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Starr Testimony
Fair and accurate 46%
Unfair and distorted 41
Asked of those who saw or heard
about Starr testimony
Sampling error: +/-6% pts
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Question 7: (IF SAW STARR TESTIMONY OR HEARD ABOUT IT): Based on what you have heard about Ken Starr's testimony today, do you think it was a fair and accurate account of Clinton's actions, or do you think it was an unfair and distorted account of Clinton's actions?
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
How Starr Presented His
Report To Congress
Excellent 26%
Good 41
Not so good 9
Poor 12
Asked of those who saw or heard
about Starr testimony
Sampling error: +/-6% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Opinion of Starr Among People
Who Saw or Heard About His Testimony
Excellent/good presentation 65%
Disapprove of Starr
investigation 58
Have unfavorable view of Starr 56
Sampling error: +/-6% pts
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Question 8: (IF SAW STARR TESTIMONY OR HEARD ABOUT IT): Regardless of how you feel about him personally, how would you rate the job Ken Starr did today in presenting and defending his report to Congress -- excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Effect of Hearing On
View of Impeachment Process
More confidence 32%
Less confidence 42
Asked of those who saw or heard
about Starr testimony
Sampling error: +/-6% pts
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Question 9: (IF SAW STARR TESTIMONY OR HEARD ABOUT IT): As a result of today's impeachment hearings, do you have more confidence or less confidence in the impeachment process in Congress?
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CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
November 19
Did Hearings Accomplish
Something Worthwhile?
Yes 43%
No 49
Asked of those who saw or heard
about Starr testimony
Sampling error: +/-6% pts
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Question 10: (IF SAW STARR TESTIMONY OR HEARD ABOUT IT): From what you saw or heard of today's hearings, do you think today's hearings did or did not accomplish something worthwhile?
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Friday, November 20, 1998
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