Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #12555

Geography Surveyed: Idaho
Data Collected: 08/28/2007
Release Date: 08/28/2007 11:05 PM ET
Sponsor: SurveyUSA America's Pollster

55% in Idaho Say U.S. Senator Larry Craig Should Resign: Less than 36 hours after the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call first broke the story of Larry Craig's arrest in an airport bathroom, 89% in Idaho are aware. SurveyUSA interviewed 600 Idaho adults the evening of 8/28/07 to measure initial reaction, including 475 registered voters who have heard the news accounts. Of Idaho voters, 55% today say Craig should resign. 34% say Craig should remain in office. 11% are not sure. Among Idaho Republicans, 45% say Craig should resign, 42% say Craig should remain in office. Democrats and Independents overwhelmingly say Craig should resign. There are many sides to a complex story, and as new facts come to light, opinions can be expected to change.

Job Approval for Craig down 26 Points to 34%: Among all Idaho adults, 34% today approve of Craig's Job Performance, 58% disapprove. When SurveyUSA last recorded Job Approval numbers for Craig and fellow U.S. Senator from Idaho Mike Crapo, in November 2006, Craig had a 60% Job Approval, 26 percentage points higher than his approval today. Crapo had a 61% Job Approval in November 2006, identical to his Job Approval today. Over 19 consecutive months of tracking Craig, his SurveyUSA Job Approval among Idaho Republicans ranged from 71% to 82%. Today, among Idaho Republicans Craig's approval is 46%. Among Idaho Conservatives, Craig's Job Approval for 19 months ranged between 70% and 80%. Today, among Conservatives, Craig's approval is at 51%.

Favorability Ratings of Possible Successors: If Craig resigns, Idaho Republican Governor C.L. Butch Otter would appoint a replacement, almost certainly a Republican. Among those Republicans who may be under consideration: Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch is today at "Plus 9"; U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson is today at "Plus 21"; Former Governor Dirk Kempthorne is at "Plus 13." "Plus" numbers are calculated by subtracting the percent of respondents who view a person un-favorably from the percent who view the person favorably. Risch is viewed favorably by 26% of Idaho voters, unfavorably by 17%. 32% are neutral on Risch. 25% have no opinion of Risch. Simpson is viewed favorably by 40% of Idaho voters, unfavorably by 19%. 25% of Idaho voters are neutral on Simpson. 17% have no opinion. Kempthorne is viewed favorably by 46% of Idaho voters, unfavorably by 33%. Former Congressman Larry LaRocco, a Democrat who may run for the U.S. Senate against Craig or Craig's successor in the 2008 General Election, is at "Plus 1" today, viewed favorably by 22%, unfavorably by 21%.