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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's Voice: Saddam Hussein's Capture
Aired December 15, 2003 - 06:36 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: So, what do you think about Saddam Hussein's capture? The pollsters went to work to find out.
Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport joins us live from Princeton, New Jersey, with some interesting numbers this morning.
Take it away -- Frank.
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Indeed, Carol, we were out yesterday gauging Americans' initial first reaction to the capture of Saddam Hussein. I've been studying the numbers.
Americans clearly think it's a major achievement, but I see some caution in the numbers about overestimating how much impact this might have on public opinion.
Let me show you why. I say that first of all basic support for going to war was at 59 percent a week ago. We asked the same question yesterday: Was it worth it going to war? And just saw a 3 point non- significant increase in that, so it doesn't look like the immediate reaction of the public is to really jump support for the war up. It was already above 50 percent, and it looks like it's staying there.
Second, politically we were just seeing some of the candidates' reactions. We asked people: Is this going to change your vote? Almost no Americans told us it was going to affect their vote. Now, it might in the long run, but in the short term just 3 percent said they were going to be more likely to vote for Bush, 45 percent said they're already voting for Bush. And this is key: 43 percent said they were already planning to vote for the Democratic candidate, and this hadn't changed their mind.
So, at least from what they tell us, Americans say no impact on their vote.
Also, there is, in fact, a lot of evidence that Americans are going to be patient. The president himself said that the Americans need to be aware of the fact that there will probably continue to be terrorist activity and attacks in Iraq. Indeed, the public agrees. Only 3 percent -- or 2 percent, actually, say they believe the capture of Saddam Hussein will end combat deaths -- U.S. combat deaths altogether in Iraq. A minor drop, 29 percent -- 49 percent minor, I should say, 29 a major drop, and 26 percent say no change at all.
All of this, Carol, indicating that the public is not necessarily going to shift dramatically in a lot of its attitudes as a result of this event. COSTELLO: Interesting. The other question, of course, now that Saddam is captured: Does that make Americans more positive that Osama bin Laden will be captured, too?
NEWPORT: Well, we did see a shift here indeed, I think because one leader on the run, as I might call it, was captured. I think the public is now much more willing to think another one, Osama bin Laden, will be captured. Back earlier in December, only 41 percent were confident Osama bin Laden might be captured. Look at the big shift here -- as of last night, 68 percent.
So, clearly it changed there. The public thinks it's more likely bin Laden may be caught.
COSTELLO: And another question for you: What penalty do most Americans think Saddam should receive?
NEWPORT: Well, the majority will support the death penalty, but it's not overwhelming. It's kind of very similar, Carol, to what we get when we ask the public this question in general: Which would you favor for Saddam Hussein if convicted in some type of court -- death penalty or life imprisonment with no possibility of parole? Fifty- nine, death penalty; 37 the other option.
This is quite similar to general attitudes, so I don't see the public's perception of the death penalty as applied to Saddam Hussein much different than they would think about the death penalty in general. But it is a majority who say that would be an appropriate punishment for the deposed leader of Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Fascinating numbers this morning. Frank Newport live from Princeton, New Jersey.
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 December 15, 2003 - 06:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So, what do you think about Saddam Hussein's capture? The pollsters went to work to find out.
Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport joins us live from Princeton, New Jersey, with some interesting numbers this morning.
Take it away -- Frank.
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Indeed, Carol, we were out yesterday gauging Americans' initial first reaction to the capture of Saddam Hussein. I've been studying the numbers.
Americans clearly think it's a major achievement, but I see some caution in the numbers about overestimating how much impact this might have on public opinion.
Let me show you why. I say that first of all basic support for going to war was at 59 percent a week ago. We asked the same question yesterday: Was it worth it going to war? And just saw a 3 point non- significant increase in that, so it doesn't look like the immediate reaction of the public is to really jump support for the war up. It was already above 50 percent, and it looks like it's staying there.
Second, politically we were just seeing some of the candidates' reactions. We asked people: Is this going to change your vote? Almost no Americans told us it was going to affect their vote. Now, it might in the long run, but in the short term just 3 percent said they were going to be more likely to vote for Bush, 45 percent said they're already voting for Bush. And this is key: 43 percent said they were already planning to vote for the Democratic candidate, and this hadn't changed their mind.
So, at least from what they tell us, Americans say no impact on their vote.
Also, there is, in fact, a lot of evidence that Americans are going to be patient. The president himself said that the Americans need to be aware of the fact that there will probably continue to be terrorist activity and attacks in Iraq. Indeed, the public agrees. Only 3 percent -- or 2 percent, actually, say they believe the capture of Saddam Hussein will end combat deaths -- U.S. combat deaths altogether in Iraq. A minor drop, 29 percent -- 49 percent minor, I should say, 29 a major drop, and 26 percent say no change at all.
All of this, Carol, indicating that the public is not necessarily going to shift dramatically in a lot of its attitudes as a result of this event. COSTELLO: Interesting. The other question, of course, now that Saddam is captured: Does that make Americans more positive that Osama bin Laden will be captured, too?
NEWPORT: Well, we did see a shift here indeed, I think because one leader on the run, as I might call it, was captured. I think the public is now much more willing to think another one, Osama bin Laden, will be captured. Back earlier in December, only 41 percent were confident Osama bin Laden might be captured. Look at the big shift here -- as of last night, 68 percent.
So, clearly it changed there. The public thinks it's more likely bin Laden may be caught.
COSTELLO: And another question for you: What penalty do most Americans think Saddam should receive?
NEWPORT: Well, the majority will support the death penalty, but it's not overwhelming. It's kind of very similar, Carol, to what we get when we ask the public this question in general: Which would you favor for Saddam Hussein if convicted in some type of court -- death penalty or life imprisonment with no possibility of parole? Fifty- nine, death penalty; 37 the other option.
This is quite similar to general attitudes, so I don't see the public's perception of the death penalty as applied to Saddam Hussein much different than they would think about the death penalty in general. But it is a majority who say that would be an appropriate punishment for the deposed leader of Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Fascinating numbers this morning. Frank Newport live from Princeton, New Jersey.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
