KAET-ASU Poll

FOR RELEASE
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1999

KAET POLL:

ARIZONANS DON’T FEEL AIR STRIKES AGAINST KOSOVO WILL WORK/DIVIDED OVER USE OF GROUND TROOPS

SUPPORT IN ARIZONA FOR DOCTOR-ASSISTED SUICIDE

MCCAIN CONTINUES TO BE PREFERRED OVER QUAYLE

SUPPORT FOUND TO REPEAL LAW WHICH ALLOWS SOME DEVELOPMENTS TO BE FUNDED WITH SALES TAX

A statewide telephone poll of 450 registered voters conducted by KAET-TV and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University during the period April 22-25, 1999 found that most Arizonans (64%) do not believe air power will win in Kosovo. In addition, public opinion is almost evenly divided on whether ground troops should be used. Forty-six percent (46%) of those interviewed (52% of those with an opinion) support sending ground troops; 43% are opposed and 12% said they were undecided. Interestingly, whether or not troops should be sent was not related to most demographics. Women, for instance, were not different from men in their opinion about the war. The only demographic that showed a difference was that 45% of the self-identified conservatives favored sending troops compared to 64% of the liberals.

The survey also found strong support for doctor-assisted suicide in Arizona. Sixty-two percent (62%) were in favor, 33% were opposed and only 5% had no opinion. Again, the only demographic that showed a difference on this question was political ideology. While less than half (48%) of the self-identified conservatives favor doctor-assisted suicide, 91% of the liberals were favorable.

Senator McCain holds a large lead over former Vice-President Quayle in the contest for the Republican Presidential nomination. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of all registered voters say they would prefer to see McCain become his party’s nominee compared to 15% who preferred Quayle. Twenty-eight percent (28%) were undecided. Among the 202 Republicans who were interviewed, 57% preferred McCain, 19% favored Quayle, and 24% were undecided.

The poll also found narrow support to repeal a state law which allows at least some of the developmental cost of arenas and some other developments to be, at least partially financed, with sales tax generated at the developments. Forty-eight percent (48%) favored repeal, 37% were opposed to repeal and 15% said they were undecided.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5%. Forty-five percent (45%) of those interviewed were Republicans, 40% Democrats and 15% "others." Fifty-eight percent (58%)of the sample was from Maricopa County, 18% from Pima County, and 23% from the other Arizona counties. Forty-seven percent (47%) of the sample was male; 53% female.

Q1. First, do you think the NATO bombing campaign alone will be successful in getting Milosevic to allow the refugees to return to Kosovo and for NATO to keep a peace keeping force there?

Q2. Would you support or oppose sending American ground troops to Kosovo if President Clinton decided that’s what it will take to make Milosevic to back down from his current policies?

Q3. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states can decide whether to allow physicians to assist terminally ill patients who wish to end their own lives. Do you favor or oppose allowing physicians in Arizona to assist terminally ill patients who wish to end their own lives?