Presidency has been diminished, say voters

A new nationwide poll of American voters shows that a majority
believes the presidency has been diminished under President Bill
Clinton.

The Zogby America Poll, conducted by Zogby International from Friday
through
Sunday, polled 631 likely voters and has a margin of sampling error of 4
percent.

Just over half (51.6 percent) say the presidency has been diminished
under Clinton,
while 40.2 percent disagree. Of those who believe the presidency has
suffered, by five to one (45.6 percent to 8.6 percent) voters blame
Clinton over the Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.

Regarding the president’s possible testimony yesterday suggesting his
willingness to admit to oral sex with Monica Lewinsky, about seven in 10
(70.5 percent) disagree with
the president, while 11.8 percent agree with the president that “such an
act is not sexual
relations or adultery.”

If the president admits to a sexual relationship with Lewinsky, one
in three (32.3 percent) say they would view him less favorably, while
5.6 percent would view him more favorably, and 57.5 percent say it would
make no difference.

Nine in 10 (90.3 percent) believe that the issue has gone on too long
and 44.6 percent blame Starr, 25.1 percent blame Clinton, and 20.7
percent blame both. One in three (33.7 percent) say they are bothered a
lot, 24.5 percent are bothered a little, and 39.1 percent are not
bothered at all by a president having a relationship with a young intern
who visited the White House 37 times after her internship and received
gifts from him.

A majority (56.3 percent) favors an impeachment review if there is a
pattern of obstruction of justice, while 36.6 percent say it should be
dropped. If the president admits to lying, only 35.1 percent favor an
impeachment review, while 56 percent say it should be dropped. And if
the president encouraged Lewinsky to lie, 46.3 percent favor an
impeachment review, while 45 percent say it should be dropped.

The president’s job performance rating is now 57.1 percent positive,
up 2 points from two
weeks ago. His favorability rating is also up: 59 percent, up 4 points.

If Clinton could run again in 2000, a majority (50.1 percent) says he
does not deserve
re-election, while 38.6 percent say he does.

Pollster John Zogby: “Clearly the presidency has been diminished and
the voters hold
Clinton responsible for that. What a horrible legacy — in two terms the
institution
suffered more under him than it was enhanced. That means that his
successors will
have the job of repairing an institution known for being investigated
and less than
truthful. While his personal popularity continues to be high, these
numbers show
that a corner has clearly been turned not only in his legacy but also in
the presidency
itself.”