Phase I: Aug-Sept 1998 (Before Impeachment)

• Average support for impeachment and removal (10 polls): 26%
• Average support for hearings (6 polls): 36%

Phase II: Nov-Dec 1998 (During Impeachment in the House)

Phase III: 1999 (Senate Acquittal and afterwards):

ABC News Poll. Latest: Conducted Monday night, August 17, 1998.

"If he does not resign, do you think Congress should or should not impeach Clinton and remove him from office?"
Should impeach 25
Should not 69
No opinion 6

Pew Research Center Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. August 21-24, 1998. N=1,001 adults nationwide.

"Bill Clinton has told the American people that he had an inappropriate relationship with Monica Lewinsky but misled the public earlier to protect his family. In your opinion, should Clinton's statement be enough to end the matter OR do you think Congress should still consider impeachment hearings?"

Enough to end matter 61
Still consider impeachment hearings 32
Don't know 7

The Los Angeles Times Poll. September 13, 1998. N=968 adults nationwide.
ALL Dem. Ind. Rep. Men Women

"From what you have heard, do you believe that Congress should impeach President Clinton, or censure him -- meaning that Congress reprimands the president but does not impeach -- or should Congress drop the matter?"
Impeach Clinton 18 6 19 34 19 16
Censure Clinton 34 32 31 43 35 33
Drop the matter 41 58 44 14 39 44
Don't know 7 4 6 9 7 7

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. September 14-15, 1998. N=1,028 adults nationwide.
ALL Rep. Ind. Dem.
"If the investigations into the Clinton-Lewinsky matter continue, what position would you prefer the U.S. representative from your congressional district take? 1. Favor impeaching and removing Clinton from office. 2. Favor a formal reprimand or censure of Clinton, but not removing him from office. OR, 3. Favor taking no formal action against Clinton."
Impeach 27 51 27 7
Reprimand 45 35 43 56
No formal action 24 10 26 33
No opinion 4 4 4 4

Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. September 16-17, 1998. N=901 registered voters nationwide.

"Based on all that you know about the Clinton/Lewinsky matter, what do you think should happen? He should be impeached and removed from office. He should resign from office. There should be some other penalty. Nothing."
Resign 30
Some other penalty 28
Nothing 19
Impeached and removed 17
Not sure 6

U.S. News & World Report Poll conducted by the Tarrance Group (R) and Lake, Snell, Perry & Associates (D). September 16-17, 1998. N=1,006 registered voters nationwide.

"In your opinion, what should happen to Bill Clinton for his actions involving Monica Lewinsky? Should he be impeached or fired, OR, be censured or reprimanded, OR, should nothing happen to him?"
Censured or reprimanded 47
Impeached or fired 32
Nothing 15
Don't know 7

NBC News Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Robert Teeter (R). September 21, 1998. N=508 adults nationwide.

"Given the things that you've heard or seen about Bill Clinton over the past few weeks regarding the Monica Lewinsky situation, what do you think is the best course of action for Congress to follow: begin the impeachment process now; pass a resolution of censure, which is a formal reprimand; OR, drop the matter without any further action?"
ALL Watched Videotaped Testimony

Begin impeachment process 27 29
Pass a resolution of censure 30 31
Drop the matter 39 36
Not sure 4 4

Pew Research Center Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. September 19-22, 1998. N=706 adults nationwide.

"If it turns out that President Clinton lied under oath about having a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, do you think that he should be impeached and removed from office, or not?"
Total 9/21-22/98 9/19-20/98

Should be 40 37 42
Should not 57 61 53
Don't know 4 2 5

CBS News/New York Times Poll. September 22-23, 1998. N=960 adults nationwide.
ALL Rep. Dem. Ind.

"Do you think the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives should begin holding hearings to determine whether or not to impeach President Clinton, or don't you think it's necessary?"
Should begin hearings 31 51 17 30
Not necessary 65 43 80 66
Depends (vol.) 1 2 0 1
Don't know/No answer 3 4 3 3

CNN/Time Poll conducted by Yankelovich Partners. September 23-24, 1998. N=1,019 adults nationwide.
ALL Rep. Ind. Dem.
"Based on what you have read or heard, do you believe that President Clinton should be impeached and removed from office, or don't you feel that way?"
Should be impeached and removed 29 57 25 13
Don't feel that way 67 38 69 85
Not sure 4 5 6 2

CBS News Poll. October 3-4, 1998. N=902 adults nationwide.

ALL Rep. Dem. Ind.

"(Next week) the House Judiciary Committee will vote on whether or not to recommend to the entire U.S. House of Representatives that a formal impeachment inquiry of President Clinton be conducted. Do you think the House Judiciary Committee should or should not begin a formal impeachment inquiry of President Clinton?"
Should 38 65 13 40
Should not 56 29 83 51
Don't know/No answer 6 5 4 9

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. October 6-7, 1998. N=861 adults nationwide.

"Finally, we would like to ask you one overall question about what you would prefer to see happen with President Clinton. Would you prefer to see him stay in office for the remaining two years of his term, OR, would you prefer to see him leave office before the end of his term, either through impeachment or resignation?"
Stay in office 65
Leave office 34
No opinion 1

CBS News Poll. October 7-8, 1998. N=997 adults nationwide.

"Just from the way you feel right now, do you think President Clinton's actions are serious enough to warrant his being impeached and removed from the presidency, or not?"
ALL Rep. Dem. Ind.
Are serious enough 31 59 12 30
Are not 64 37 83 65
Don't know/No answer 5 4 5 5

"Of all the options available to Congress, which one do you favor the most: censuring or publicly reprimanding President Clinton, OR impeaching President Clinton, OR dropping the matter?"

ALL Rep. Dem. Ind.
Censure/Reprimand 30 26 34 28
Impeachment 27 51 9 27
Drop the matter 41 21 56 41
Don't know/No answer 2 2 1 3

American Viewpoint (R). October 9-13, 1998. N=800 likely voters nationwide.
"Do you favor or oppose the House of Representatives' action to begin a formal impeachment inquiry against Bill Clinton?"
Favor 43
Oppose 52
Don't know 4

CBS News/New York Times Poll. October 12-13, 1998. N=926 adults nationwide.
"Last week, the full U.S. House of Representatives voted to authorize the House Judiciary Committee to begin a formal impeachment inquiry of President Clinton. Do you approve or disapprove of Congress beginning an impeachment inquiry?"
ALL Rep. Dem. Ind.
Approve 45 75 22 47
Disapprove 53 24 75 50
Don't know/No answer 2 1 3 3

CNN/Time Poll conducted by Yankelovich Partners. October 14-15, 1998. N=1,036 adults nationwide.
ALL Rep. Ind. Dem.
"Which of the following possible outcomes of the investigation of Bill Clinton would you most like to see happen? Clinton is impeached and removed from office. Clinton resigns from office. Clinton is censured by Congress, and remains in office. Clinton remains in office and Congress takes no action against him."
Impeached and removed 12 23 14 4
Resigns 21 44 21 7
Censured and remains 28 16 25 41
Remains, Congress takes no action 34 14 37 45
Not sure 5 3 3 3