CBS News Poll on The Supreme Court and Judge Alito

Submitted by CAUSAoregon on December 14, 2005 - 11:22pm

In case you missed it, here is a CBS News Poll regarding The Supreme Court and Judge Alito.

ISSUES: THE SUPREME COURT

Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito are scheduled for early next year, and a majority of the public is withholding judgment about him. Seventy-five percent haven't heard enough about Alito or are undecided in their views of him, down from 81 percent last month. Fourteen percent view Alito favorably, while 10 percent hold an unfavorable view of him.

OPINION OF SAMUEL ALITO

Favorable: Now - 14% vs. Oct. 2005 - 11%

Unfavorable Now - 10% vs. Oct. 2005 - 7%

Undecided/haven't heard enough: Now - 75% vs. Oct. 2005 - 81%

Views of Alito are slightly better than those of past nominee Harriet Miers, but not as positive as nominee John Roberts. A majority of Americans think it has been more important to George W. Bush that a nominee hold conservative views on issues than have the right legal qualifications. Conservatives and Republicans are more evenly divided on this question.

IN MAKING CHOICES FOR THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT TO PRES. BUSH?

A candidate's legal qualifications
28%

Conservative views on most issues
59%

However, just a quarter of Americans say the President's nominees have been more conservative than they would like, 15 percent say they have been not conservative enough, and 50 percent say Bush's nominees have been about right.

Seventy-one percent of Americans say it is important for the Senate to know a Supreme Court nominee's position on abortion before it holds a confirmation vote, including 37 percent who say it is very important. Opponents of abortion are more likely than those who think abortion should be available to say it is very important for Senators be aware of a nominee's position on the issue.

IMPORTANT FOR SENATE TO KNOW NOMINEE'S POSITION ON ABORTION?

Very
37%

Somewhat
34%

Not very/not at all
28%

The public's views on abortion have changed little over the years. Today, 38 percent say abortion should be generally available to those who want it, 39 percent think it should be available but with stricter limits, and 20 percent say abortion should not be permitted.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/07/opinion/polls/main1105883.shtml