CBS News Monthly Poll #6, January 1998

This poll, fielded January 26, 1998, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, particularly in light of claims that he had had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Respondents were queried as to how closely they had followed the story of the alleged affair, how important an issue they thought it was, whether it would interfere with the president's effectiveness in office and his ability to achieve his policy goals for the current year, whether they believed Clinton's denial of the affair given earlier in the day, and whether that response had made the situation better or worse for him. Opinions were elicited concerning who was to blame for the situation--the president or his political enemies, whether Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation of the president was impartial or partisan, and whether Clinton should resign from office, or whether discussion of his resignation should be deferred until all of the facts were in. Respondents were also asked how the Lewinsky story would affect the upcoming presidential State of the Union speech, whether they were planning to watch the speech, whether they were more likely to watch it in light of the Lewinsky matter, and whether it would be better for the speech to be postponed. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, political orientation, recent voting history, age of children in the household, and family income.