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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Polling Post-Iraq War Scenario

Aired April 22, 2003 - 06:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The post-Iraq war scenario, the SARS virus and the Laci Peterson murder case all topics on the minds of many across the country today. So let's get a sampling.
For that, we turn to our Gallup poll Editor-In-Chief Frank Newport.

Good morning, Frank.

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Good morning, Carol.

Lots of focus on George W. Bush. In fact, the "New York Times," a big article today about his reelection plans for 2004. Seventy-one percent job approval domestically, which is good, but not as good as his father back in 1991. One reason may be that Americans aren't convinced that Bush has earned back the respect of foreign or international leaders.

Let me show you the data. Back in February of 2002, 75 percent of Americans said that international leaders respected Bush. That dropped way down to just 40 percent in February of this year. That's when Bush was having all the disputes about Iraq with the U.N. and what have you. But now after the war essentially is over, 46 percent of Americans say that international leaders respect Bush. That's just an up tick of six percentage points.

So, Carol, the point is Americans don't think that even the apparent victory in Iraq has really earned Bush the respect that he had after 9/11.

COSTELLO: I understand perfectly.

Let's talk about SARS now.

Do Americans fear SARS or are they just brushing it off?

NEWPORT: Well, they're paying a lot of attention to it, but I would say it's more of the latter than the former in the way you phrased the question. We asked how worried about you or your family being exposed to SARS. Only 10 percent of Americans are very worried, a fairly low number. Twenty-two percent somewhat worried. That leaves two thirds of Americans, as you can see, not worried at all. This is actually, Carol, a lower level of concern than we found last year when we asked about the West Nile Virus. Now, this can change quickly, certainly as, if there are -- and I hope there are not -- more exposure to SARS in the U.S. But right now not a high level of concern.

COSTELLO: Absolutely understand.

Let's talk about the Laci Peterson case now.

Do most Americans think that Scott Peterson should be charged with a double murder, you know, as it a-applies to the unborn child?

NEWPORT: Absolutely. This is controversial, of course. Some people say it should be only a single murder, because it has all kinds of implications in the abortion debate. But we have asked the question a year or two ago, "If a pregnant woman is murdered, should the accused murderer be accused of two or one murder?"

Well, you can see the results here. Absolutely Americans say two murders, and I think that's what's happened in the case of Scott Peterson out in California.

COSTELLO: Can't argue with those numbers.

Thank you very much, Frank.

We appreciate it.

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