Poll: Americans favor campaign finance reform efforts

From Keating Holland
CNN polling director

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most Americans strongly favor new federal laws limiting "soft money" and think it is important for Congress and the president to pass new campaign finance laws, according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

Only about one in five say that campaign finance reform would make the U.S. government much better. Thirty-seven percent say it would imrpove the government a little, and 32 percent say new campaign finance laws would leave government about the same.

The best advantage campaign finance reform may have is John McCain. The Arizona senator is just about as popular as President Bush (mostly because McCain scores better than the president among Democrats), and the public prefers McCain's approach to campaign finance over Bush's by a 43 percent-33 percent margin.

The poll, conducted March 9-11, is based on interviews conducted with 1,015 adult Americans.

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
March 9-11

Limits on soft money

Is it important to pass new campaign finance reform?

What is the effect of campaign finance legislation on government?

Opinion of John McCain

Favorable Ratings

Favorable Ratings

Whose approach do you prefer on campaign finance?

Whose approach do you prefer on campaign finance?

Whose approach do you prefer on important issues?

Whose approach do you prefer on important issues?

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