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Survey: Most Americans Want Independent Counsel

poll

But a new poll also shows people trust Reno's judgment in the campaign fund-raising probe

By Keating Holland/CNN

WASHINGTON (Nov. 24) -- A majority of Americans want Attorney General Janet Reno to appoint an independent counsel to investigate President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, but are willing to give her the benefit of the doubt if she decides against it, according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

poll

If Reno does not appoint an independent counsel for Clinton, only 36 percent say that protecting Clinton would be the main reason for that decision. Instead, 57 percent say the main reason would be that she did not think it was necessary based on the facts in the case. For Gore, the numbers were almost identical.

Support for an independent counsel in either case has dropped somewhat since October; nonetheless about six in 10 Americans favor appointing one.

The numbers are based on interviews with 1,019 adult conducted Nov. 21-23, and the survey has a margin of sampling error of +/- 3 to 5 percentage points, depending on the question.

Here are the numbers:

Favor Independent Counsel To Investigate...

Clinton
Gore
Now
60%
57%
October
66%
67%

When they were asked what they thought the reasons would be if Reno decided not to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the fund-raising practices of Clinton and Gore, these were the results:

Main Reason If Reno Decides Not To Investigate Clinton?
Facts in the case
57%
To protect Clinton
36%
Main Reason If Reno Decides Not To Investigate Gore?
Facts in the case
53%
To protect Gore
36%

Skeptical on Iraq policy

On another subject, the survey found the public thinks the U.S. response to Iraq has been too weak, and a majority thinks that Iraq won in the current crisis over U.N. weapons inspectors. Nonetheless, 54 percent approve of the way the situation was resolved.

What does the future hold? A majority believe that only military force will prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction; just a quarter say that the current arrangements will do so. And 86 percent predict Saddam Hussein will eventually provoke another crisis. Only one in 10 believe that he will comply with U.N. resolutions in the future.

U.S. Response to Iraq
Too weak
About right
Too strong
50%
36%
8%
Did Iraq Win in Recent Crisis?
Yes
No
51%
32%
Did U.S. Win in Recent Crisis?
Yes
No
43%
38%
Opinion of How Iraq Crisis Was Resolved
Approve
Disapprove
54%
34%
Military Force Only Way To Prevent Iraq From Making Weapons?
Yes
No
56%
22%
Saddam Hussein Will...
Provoke another crisis
Comply with U.N. policy
86%
10%

No support for assassination

Despite those views, a majority of people surveyed now oppose assassinating Saddam Hussein (60 percent favored that option during the Persian Gulf War), and just 37 percent feel that the U.N. should maintain economic sanctions until he is removed from power. Fifty-five percent say that the sanctions should be lifted when Iraq complies with U.N. resolutions, even if Saddam is still running the country. Three-quarters, however, believe it was a mistake to end the Persian Gulf War before he was removed from power.

Should U.S. Assassinate Saddam?
Yes
No
39%
55%
When Should U.N. Lift Sanctions Against Iraq?
When Iraq complies with resolutions

Only when Saddam is removed from power

55%

37%

Should U.S. Have Removed Saddam From Power Before Ending War?
Yes
No
77%
20%

Clinton's approval rating stays steady

What about Bill Clinton? Fifty-nine percent approve of how he is handling the situation in Iraq, and 55 percent approve of how he is handling foreign policy overall. But that has not had a significant effect on his overall approval rating. In all, 61 percent approve of how Clinton is handling his job as president, an increase of two points since the first week in November. The 61 percent figure is only one point lower than Clinton's all-time high, which he reached just before his second inauguration.

Clinton Approval Ratings
Situation in Iraq
Foreign policy
59%
55%
Clinton's Overall Approval Rating
Now
November 6-9
October 3-5
61%
59%
55%


Other Polls:

President Clinton Is America's Most Admired Man (12/30/97)
Americans Support U.S. Role In Bosnia (12/22/97)
Reno Should Have Appointed Independent Counsel (12/3/97)
Americans Want Independant Counsel (11/24/97)
Virginia Exit Poll: Governor's Race (11/6/97)
New Jersey Exit Poll: Governor's Race (11/4/97)
New York City Exit Poll: Mayor's Race (11/4/97)
Clinton, Gore Approval Ratings Rise (10/30/97)
America's Leaders Like America's Course (10/13/97)
Americans Want Campaign Reform (9/29/97)
Bad, Good News For Gore (9/12/97)
Congress Returns With High Approval Rating (8/28/97)
More Americans Want Jones vs. Clinton Settled Out Of Court (8/14/97)
Credit For Balanced Budget Deal Goes To GOP (8/1/97)
Clinton, GOP Deserve Credit For Budget (7/28/97)
GOP Congress Out Of Touch, Favors Wealthy (6/30/97)
People Still Care About Washington Scandals (6/3/97)
High Court Correct On Jones Case (6/2/97)
Public Supports Budget Deal By 2-1 Margin (5/8/97)
Few Americans Volunteer Regularly (4/25/97)
Most Say No To Wheelchair In F.D.R. Memorial (4/24/97)
Clinton's Approval Suffering Little (4/21/97)
Majority Says Gingrich Loan 'Inappropriate' (4/18/97)
Clinton's Approval Rating Remains High (3/27/97)
Gore's Poll Numbers Dip (3/14/97)
WSJ/NBC Poll On Fund-Raising (3/13/97)
Is Clinton's Honeymoon Ending? (2/27/97)
Americans Are Split On Clinton's Fund-Raising Tactics (2/27/97)
For 2000, Powell's No. 1 With GOP Voters (2/21/97)
President's Approval Rating Stays At High Levels (2/8/97)
New Yorkers Strongly Support Pataki (2/7/97)
Public Confidence High In Clinton On Most Issues (2/7/97)
Clinton Rides High On Issues Public Cares About Most (2/3/97)
Clinton Approval Rating At All-Time High (1/16/97)
Polls - Campaign '96





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