Vested Interest - Trends - September 1998 Issue

Voters Accept Clinton Apology

Polls conducted immediately after President Clinton's August 17 news conference found widespread satisfaction with the speech. Polling conducted by CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC all found continued support for the President in his official capacity, and over two-thirds of those surveyed in all four polls believed that Clinton should not resign or face impeachment proceedings. Voters did register disappointment that the president would engage in an "improper relationship", and many thought he should have come forward sooner, but Clinton's job approval numbers remain over 60%. (Reuters, August 18, 1998)

Public Critical of Media

A survey of 752 adults nationwide by Princeton Survey Research found skepticism toward the news media A plurality of respondents (42%) said they believed "only some" of what they see, hear or read in the media A majority (53%) said they think news organizations are "often inaccurate". While a plurality (46%) said that mergers between manufacturers and media groups has had not much effect on the accuracy of news reporting, respondents were more likely to think that mergers made things worse (3 5 %) than better (14%). Finally, the poll found that 76% think news media have "gone too far in the direction of entertainment and away from traditional reporting." (The Polling Report)

Voters Trust Democrats on Most Issues

An ABC News/Washington Post pollof 1,511 adults nationwide asked which party voters trust most on important issues. Democrats were favored by at least a plurality on most issues, including the environment (56% to 28%), Medicare (54% to 32%), Patient's Rights (53% to 29%) Social Security (51% to 35%), the economy (49% to 37%), and teen smoking (48% to 26%), abortion (45% to 35%). Even on traditionally Republican areas, Democrats were favored, though often by insignificant margins, including taxes (42% to 39%), the federal budget (42% to 39%), foreign affairs (41% to 41%), and crime (40% to 39%). Republicans were favored on the tax system (44% to 35%), campaign finance (35% to 33%), and moral standards (42% to 33%). (The Polling Report)

Whither Social Security?

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll of 1,006 adults nationwide asked public feelings about social security. Asked to choose between a tax cut and bolstering social security, 69% favored bolstering social security, while just 24% wanted tax cuts. A separate question showed that 63% think there is not enough money to do both. A plurality (34%) think both parties are capable of resolving any problems with social security, but voters were more likely to favor Democratic proposals (28%) than Republican (19%) ones. (The Polling Report)