FAIRFIELD, Conn., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a national poll by
the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute, a majority of Americans
surveyed, 59.5%, suggest that Congressman Tom DeLay should resign from his
position as House Majority Leader.
"The poll numbers regarding Congressman DeLay have serious political
consequences for Republicans in the forthcoming 2006 congressional elections,
and suggest that pressure for resignation will most likely be forthcoming from
fellow Republican Congressmen who see DeLay as a serious political liability,"
stated Dr. Gary L. Rose, professor and chair of Sacred Heart University's
Department of History and Political Science.
The Poll surveyed Americans nationwide on a variety of subjects, from the
President's approval rating and the current direction of events in Iraq to
education, the "No Child Left Behind" act, steroid testing among high school
athletes and Terri Schiavo.
Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Nearly half of those surveyed, 46.5%, indicated they are following the
U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ethics issues. Another 49.1% suggested
either not following the issue very closely or not at all.
Among those with an opinion and following the issue closely, 59.5%,
suggested that Congressman DeLay resign his leadership position. Another
40.5% said he should not give up his post.
As for resigning from the U.S. Congress, 45.3% with an opinion and
following the issue closely suggested he should while 54.7% said he should not
resign.
President George W. Bush
The Sacred Heart University Poll shows President George Bush's favorable
job rating at 52.3% -- down from 55.4% in October 2004 and 57.7% in April
2004.
Iraq
Americans are evenly split over the current direction of events in Iraq.
Among those with an opinion, 45.7% suggest the situation in Iraq is moving in
the right direction while 45.0% said in the wrong direction. Another 9.3%
said either there is no movement or the situation is stagnant.
And, in retrospect, 49.8% indicated that the American actions in Iraq were
the wrong decision while 36.8% said it was the right decision. Some, 13.4%,
were unsure.
Education
Over three quarters of Americans surveyed, 77.8%, suggested they were very
or somewhat aware of the "No Child Left Behind Act." Together with those
suggesting they were somewhat unaware, total awareness, at any level, is
83.4%.
Among aware survey respondents, 42.4% see the Act as very or somewhat
successful while 42.3% indicated they considered the Act somewhat unsuccessful
or not at all successful. Another 15.2% were unsure. African Americans are
significantly more likely to suggest the Act is successful (48.8%) than the
general population.
Regarding school vouchers -- allowing parents to move their children from
under-performing schools to more successful schools -- 69.4% of those with an
opinion said they supported school vouchers. Another 30.4% were opposed.
And, again, African Americans are significantly more likely to support school
vouchers (77.3%) than the general population.
Steroid Use
A large majority of Americans surveyed, 87.3%, suggested they strongly
supported (67.3%) or somewhat supported (19.7%) random testing of high school
athletes for steroid use. Another 9.3% said they were somewhat opposed (3.3%)
or strongly opposed (6.0%). Some, 3.3% were undecided.
Terri Schiavo
A large majority of Americans surveyed, 79.8%, said they followed the
issue as the President, Congress and the Courts fought over the removal of
Terri Schiavo's feeding tube in Florida. Together with those saying they
watched very little (8.7%), those following the fight at any level was 88.5%.
More Americans (43.0%) supported the removal of the feeding tube than
those opposed (39.2%), after learning that Terri Schiavo did not need a
feeding tube to eat, was not terminally ill and her internal organs functioned
properly.
Among those with an opinion, 52.3% supported the removal of Terri
Schiavo's feeding tube while 47.8% were opposed. Among Hispanics,
significantly fewer supported the removal of the feeding tube (41.2%) than the
general population.
EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
- Gary Rose, Ph.D., professor and chair of Sacred Heart University's
Department of History and Political Science.
- Jerry Lindsley, director, Sacred Heart University Polling Institute
To speak with these experts, please contact Funda Alp at 203-396-8241 or
alpf@sacredheart.edu
How the Poll Was Conducted
The Sacred Heart University Polling Institute completed 1,000 interviews
with residents nationwide. All phone interviews were conducted between
April 20-28, 2005. The sample was generated proportional to population
contribution in all fifty states. Statistically, a sample of 1,000 completed
telephone interviews represents a margin for error of +/-3.0% at a 95%
confidence level. Margins for error grow as subgroups of the sample are viewed
separately. The steroid testing question was completed among 299 respondents
nationwide with an associated margin for error of +/-6.0%.
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