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Poll: Americans divided on Clinton's apologies

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, December 11) -- As the nation moves toward an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives next week, Americans are divided over whether President Bill Clinton has apologized adequately for his actions in the Monica Lewinsky affair, according to a new public opinion survey.

A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll, taken Friday evening, shows that 51 percent of people believe Clinton has given an adequate apology, while 44 percent think he has mostly evaded responsibility for his actions.

Most of the people who were surveyed said they think Clinton has committed perjury, and 56 percent said he should admit it publicly.

The latest survey was conducted between 6 and 9 p.m. ET Friday as the Judiciary Committee began voting on articles of impeachment. The panel approved three articles of impeachment, accusing Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice, and will consider a fourth on Saturday. A vote in the full House is tentatively set for next Thursday.

Clinton has admitted an improper intimate relationship with Lewinsky, but denied he committed perjury or obstruction of justice in trying to conceal their affair.

The latest poll numbers are based on interviews with 568 adult Americans. The survey has a margin of sampling error of +/- 5 percentage points.

Here are the questions and results:

Question 1: How closely have you been following the congressional impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

Dec. 11 Dec. 10 Dec. 9 Dec. 8
Very closely
Somewhat closely
Not too closely
Not at all
18%
41%
25%
16%
20%
36%
31%
12%
16%
38%
29%
17%
19%
36%
28%
17%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Question 2: As you may know, the House Judiciary Committee is holding hearings on whether to recommend impeachment of Bill Clinton to the full House of Representatives. In your view, should the House Judiciary Committee vote for or against impeachment?

Should committee vote to impeach Clinton?
Dec. 11 Dec. 10 Dec. 9 Dec. 8
Yes
No
37%
58%
34%
63%
34%
61%
34%
59%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Question 3: Rather than removing President Clinton from office, do you think Congress should or should not resolve this matter by voting to censure Clinton -- that is, pass a formal resolution expressing disapproval of his actions?

Should Congress Censure Clinton?
Dec. 11 Oct. 6-7
Yes
No
58%
38%
53%
38%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts pts

Question 4: Do you think Bill Clinton should or should not resign now and turn the presidency over to Al Gore?

Should Clinton Resign?
Dec. 11 Oct. 6-7
Yes
No
33%
63%
34%
64%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts pts

Question 5: Regardless of how you feel about impeachment, do you think that President Clinton has or has not committed perjury in relation to the Monica Lewinsky matter?

Has Clinton Committed Perjury In Lewinsky Matter?
Yes
No
67%
27%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts pts

Question 6: Do you think that Bill Clinton has given the public an adequate apology for his actions, or has he mostly been evading his responsibility for his actions in his public statements?

Clinton's Public Statements About Lewinsky Matter
Adequate apology
Evading responsibility
51%
44%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts pts

Question 7: Bill Clinton has admitted that he gave false and misleading testimony but has not admitted that he committed perjury. Do you think Clinton should or should not admit publicly that he committed perjury?

Should Clinton Admit He Committed Perjury?
Should Clinton Admit
He Committed Perjury?
56%
38%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts pts

Question 8: As you may know, Bill Clinton made a statement about these matters in the White House Rose Garden this afternoon. Have you read or heard anything about this afternoon's statement by the President, or not?

Seen or Heard Anything About Clinton Speech?
Yes
No
39%
61%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts pts

Investigating the President

MORE STORIES:

Friday, December 11, 1998

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