RHODE ISLAND DEMOCRATS TAKING A BEATING FOR CLINTON DEFENSE
Brown University poll confirms Democrats face voter backlash for excusing Clinton behavior
WASHINGTON (February 4) - A Brown University poll of Rhode Island voters shows that Democrats defending President Clinton face a backlash from voters who believe Clinton committed perjury and, despite his popularity, have little patience with his Congressional Democrat defenders.
�Rhode Islanders are rewarding Republicans who are standing up for what they believe in and they�ve got no patience for the Congressional Democrats who find excuses for his behavior,� noted Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson.
�Today�s Rhode Island poll shows what I�ve believed all along - that Democrats will face a voter backlash for becoming �the party of excuses,�� Nicholson added.
According to a release from Brown University, two thirds of Rhode Island voters believe the president committed perjury in his testimony. The poll was conducted January 30-31, 1999 at Brown University, based on a statewide random sample of 313 registered Rhode Island voters (margin of error was +/- 5%).
Among the findings: Seventy-one percent (71%) of respondents believe Clinton lied to the grand jury, 65% feel he committed perjury in his testimony, and 49 % believe he obstructed justice.
The poll also shows that Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Almond has the highest job performance of any point during his administration. Sixty percent (60%) give him excellent or good ratings, 24% rate him only fair, 8% rate him poor and 8% have no opinion.
In addition, 64% believe Senator John Chaffee is doing an excellent or good job. In comparison, Senator Jack Reed�s rating on the same question dropped 7 points to 57%, U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy�s rating plummeted 13 points to 47% and Representative Robert Weygand dropped 12 points to a 43% rating from a poll taken last September.