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CNN Live At Daybreak

Anti-War Protesters Becoming More Vocal

Aired February 18, 2003 - 06:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Anti-war protesters are becoming more and more vocal. You saw the millions who took to the streets over the weekend in worldwide demonstrations for peace. So, have their voices been heard? Is anyone changing their minds because of them?
We take you to snowy Princeton, New Jersey and Gallup poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport with more on the people's voice.

Good morning, Frank.

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Good morning, Carol.

Indeed, we saw Prime Minister Blair just a few moments ago. I want to show you some recent Gallup polling that we did to show you how much trouble he is in. In the United States, there's still majority support for the concept of military action in Iraq. That may be changing. We're polling even as we speak. In our latest numbers, in one way we asked it shows 56 percent, that's a majority support.

But look what Blair's facing in Great Britain. Our latest Gallup poll there, just 38 percent favor the concept of U.S. military action in Iraq. We thought we would show you our neighbor to the north, Canada, almost the same thing, 36 percent support it there. So the U.S. public still a little more resolute behind their leader.

Boy, there's really trouble for the leaders of these other countries.

You mentioned the protesters over the weekend. We woke up Sunday morning to those huge photographs in the newspapers and on CNN about all the protests. Who is it that's most against the war? We did an in depth analysis, looking at a lot of our past polls and kind of averaged them. African-Americans, only 37 percent support the concept. Democrats, that's not a great surprise. A Republican led effort. Those with high levels of education, only 40 percent support it. And actually older Americans, Carol, much less likely to support the war than those who are younger.

COSTELLO: OK, Frank, we're going to switch gears, and I mean we're going to switch gears right now.

There's so much on television about Michael Jackson. I just wondered what Americans really think of him now.

NEWPORT: Well, good question. Not very good for Jacko, I'm afraid. We asked the question. Seventy percent unfavorable ratings. Only 17 percent favorable. That's one of the lowest favorables we've seen in a long time. But it's kind of like, I shouldn't say this, but it's like the car wreck on the highway, you turn to look at it anyhow. We're all looking at all those specials on TV. But, boy, when you ask Americans, very unfavorable opinions of Michael Jackson.

COSTELLO: Oh, poor Michael Jackson.

Frank Newport, many thanks to you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 18, 2003 - 06:54   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Anti-war protesters are becoming more and more vocal. You saw the millions who took to the streets over the weekend in worldwide demonstrations for peace. So, have their voices been heard? Is anyone changing their minds because of them?
We take you to snowy Princeton, New Jersey and Gallup poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport with more on the people's voice.

Good morning, Frank.

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Good morning, Carol.

Indeed, we saw Prime Minister Blair just a few moments ago. I want to show you some recent Gallup polling that we did to show you how much trouble he is in. In the United States, there's still majority support for the concept of military action in Iraq. That may be changing. We're polling even as we speak. In our latest numbers, in one way we asked it shows 56 percent, that's a majority support.

But look what Blair's facing in Great Britain. Our latest Gallup poll there, just 38 percent favor the concept of U.S. military action in Iraq. We thought we would show you our neighbor to the north, Canada, almost the same thing, 36 percent support it there. So the U.S. public still a little more resolute behind their leader.

Boy, there's really trouble for the leaders of these other countries.

You mentioned the protesters over the weekend. We woke up Sunday morning to those huge photographs in the newspapers and on CNN about all the protests. Who is it that's most against the war? We did an in depth analysis, looking at a lot of our past polls and kind of averaged them. African-Americans, only 37 percent support the concept. Democrats, that's not a great surprise. A Republican led effort. Those with high levels of education, only 40 percent support it. And actually older Americans, Carol, much less likely to support the war than those who are younger.

COSTELLO: OK, Frank, we're going to switch gears, and I mean we're going to switch gears right now.

There's so much on television about Michael Jackson. I just wondered what Americans really think of him now.

NEWPORT: Well, good question. Not very good for Jacko, I'm afraid. We asked the question. Seventy percent unfavorable ratings. Only 17 percent favorable. That's one of the lowest favorables we've seen in a long time. But it's kind of like, I shouldn't say this, but it's like the car wreck on the highway, you turn to look at it anyhow. We're all looking at all those specials on TV. But, boy, when you ask Americans, very unfavorable opinions of Michael Jackson.

COSTELLO: Oh, poor Michael Jackson.

Frank Newport, many thanks to you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com