03-04-2000

Poll Track: Views on Policy and Politics

Issue Spotlight: A Widening Gulf?


The trial and subsequent acquittal of four New York City police officers
in the shooting death of Amadou Diallo has generated more questions on the
state of race relations in this country. But even before the Feb. 25
verdict, an increasing number of Americans saw racial bias in the justice
system. In a CBS News poll released on Feb. 21, 43 percent said the
criminal justice system is biased against blacks; in June 1995, just 20
percent held that opinion.


Among blacks, 71 percent see the system as biased against them. Almost
eight in 10 black Americans think police in large cities are tougher on
blacks than on whites, and 84 percent of blacks believe racial profiling
is a widespread practice among the police. (2/10/00; 1,499 adults; margin
of error +-3%).


The Odd Question: Abe Was Able, But Bill's Not Bad


In a recent ABCNews.com survey, Americans chose Abraham Lincoln as the
nation's greatest President. Where did Bill Clinton finish? Sixth, behind
John F. Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and George
Washington. Among Republicans, Lincoln was No. 1, followed immediately by
Reagan. On the Democratic side, Kennedy came out on top, followed by FDR.
(2/20/00; 1,012 adults; +-3%) In a similar poll by the Gallup Organization
Inc., however, respondents said JFK was the greatest President, with
Lincoln in second place. Richard Nixon, on the other hand, was the leading
pick as worst President. And ABCNews.com's sixth-best, Bill Clinton, was
Gallup's runner-up for worst chief executive. (2/15/00; 1,050 adults;
+-4%


White House 2000


Yes on Reform. No on Nastiness


Is it important that our next President be a reformer? In a survey by
Opinion Dynamics Corp. for Fox News Channel, 67 percent said yes-and 42
percent of respondents described John McCain as a "real
reformer." But among Republicans, George W. Bush edged out McCain as
the reformer, 36 percent to 31 percent.


Meanwhile, the media may be describing the race between McCain and Bush as
nasty, but it isn't being perceived that way by the electorate. In the
poll by Opinion Dynamics for Fox, 42 percent characterized the GOP
campaign as polite and respectful, while 32 percent said it was rude.
Twenty-six percent said they had mixed opinions or didn't know.
Respondents identified advertising as the source of the negativity.
Sixty-one percent said the candidates' spots are "usually full of
lies," while only 20 percent saw advertising as a
"legitimate" campaign tool. (2/24/00; 900 registered voters;
margin of error +-3%) In a Shorenstein Center poll for the Vanishing Voter
Project, 39 percent said that the tone of the presidential campaign has
turned negative, while 28 percent said it has been positive. Almost 25
percent, however, said they didn't know. (2/22/00; 1,000 adults;
+-3%)


Quick Take: Fuels Rush In


Rising oil and gasoline prices are back in the headlines this winter, and
they're making some Americans hot under the collar. A Gallup survey found
that 79 percent favor lowering taxes on fuel oil in their states. Another
60 percent approved of using the government's Strategic Petroleum Reserve
to reduce prices by putting more oil and gas on the market; they also
favored spending $130 million in federal funds to assist the poor with the
cost of heating fuel. (2/14/00; 1,050 adults; +-3%).)


In the States


In the States
Ups and Downs
New York Senate (Republican primary)
Rudolph W. Giuliani   75%
Rick A. Lazio	      13
Other, undecided      12
(Marist Institute; 2/21/00; 363 registered GOP voters; +-5%)
New Jersey Senate (Republican primary)
Steve Forbes	     33%
William L. Gormley   10
Bob Franks	      8
James W. Treffinger   5
Murray Sabrin	      4
Other, don't know    40
(Quinnipiac College; 2/21/00; 1,109 registered voters; +-2.9%)
New Jersey Senate (Democratic primary)
Jim Florio	     57%
Jon Corzine	     22
Other, don't know    21
(Quinnipiac College; 2/21/00; 1,109 registered voters; +-2.9%)
Rhode Island Senate (Democratic primary)
Robert A. Weygand   46%
Richard Licht	    15
Undecided	    39
(Brown University; 2/21/00; 327 registered voters; +-6%. Subsample: 222
Democrats; +-7%)



Deborah Accomb

National Journal