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87% WANT SOTOMAYOR CONFIRMED

Here are some poll numbers released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."

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87% Expect Sotomayor Will Be Confirmed, 45% Say She Should Be

Thursday, May 28, 2009

sonia_sotomayor_nyreblog_com_.jpgEighty-seven percent (87%) of voters nationwide believe Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be confirmed as the next U.S. Supreme Court justice. That figure includes 59% who believe her confirmation is Very Likely.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just five percent (5%) say her confirmation by the Senate is unlikely.

Forty-five percent (45%) favor confirmation of Sotomayor, who, if approved by the Senate, will be the first Hispanic member of the high court. Twenty-nine percent (29%) oppose her confirmation, and 26% are not sure.

Most Democrats favor confirmation while most Republicans are opposed. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 41% favor confirmation, and 29% are opposed. Hispanic voters favor confirmation by a 66% to 15% margin.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of all voters have a favorable opinion of Sotomayor while 36% hold an unfavorable view. Twenty percent (20%) have a Very Favorable opinion while 17% hold a Very Unfavorable view. Forty-eight percent (48%) hold their views less firmly, and 15% are undecided. Once again, the partisan divide is as expected.

Forty-three percent (43%) believe that Sotomayor is politically liberal while 32% view her as a moderate. A plurality of Democrats view the Supreme Court nominee as politically moderate while most Republicans and a plurality of unaffiliateds view her as politically liberal.

As the Senate considers President Obama's first Supreme Court nominee, 45% of the nation's voters say a nominee's legal competence is more important than concerns about diversity or their position on issues.

Voters are fairly closely divided over the political makeup of the current high court. Thirty-three percent (33%) say the court is too liberal, while 23% believe it's too conservative. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say the political balance is about right.

Before Sotomayor was selected as the nominee, 42% believed the president's nominee would be too liberal , while 41% said his choice would be about right.

Sixty-three percent (63%) say justices should base their rulings on what is written in the Constitution. Thirty percent (30%) say they should be guided by perceptions of fairness and justice. The president himself said he was looking for a candidate with "empathy" in naming Sotomayor.

Forty percent (40%) of voters say they've followed news stories about the nomination Very Closely. Another 36% have been following Somewhat Closely.

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To view the original report, please use this link: Sotomayor to join the Supremes

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