These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
56% Favor Regulation of Campaign Contributions, But 88% Say Special Interests Likely To Get Around It
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a ruling this fall that could loosen restrictions on contributions to political campaigns in a major way, but 56% of U.S. voters believe the federal government should regulate how much money individuals can give to political campaigns.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% don't believe the government should regulate campaign contributions. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure.
But 88% say it's at least somewhat likely that special interest groups will find ways to get money to politicians and influence their votes even if the government places limits on how much individuals can give to campaigns. Voters feel strongly about this, too, because 69% say it is Very Likely.
Only five percent (5%) say it's not very likely special interests will find ways around the government regulations, and another two percent (2%) say it's not at all likely.
There is very little partisan disagreement on the need for campaign finance regulation or over the ability of special interests to get around that regulation.
Thirty-five percent (35%) of voters think it would be good for the country if the Supreme 
However, an unusually high number of voters (40%) don't know enough about the subject to have an opinion one way or the other.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) agree that it is more important for campaigns to disclose the source of all their contributions than it is to limit how much money individuals can give to a campaign. Twenty-three percent (23%) say limiting campaign contributions is more important.
Fourteen percent (14%) of voters say a $1,000 contribution is big enough to influence a congressman or governor, while eight percent (8%) say it takes more than $100,000. Twenty-six percent (26%) say $10,000 is enough, while 22% think a $50,000 contribution will make the difference and 11% say $100,000.
Voters say it takes less now to influence a congressman or governor than it did in March 2006 .
Voters are evenly divided over whether most members of Congress are corrupt . Thirty-five percent (35%) believe they are, while 37% say they are not. But 29% aren't sure.
Just 44% of voters say their own congressman thinks about the same as they do ideologically.
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Americans say political donors get more than their money back in terms of favors from members of
Interestingly, though, voters see media bias as a bigger problem than large campaign contributions.
Only 30% of voters supported public financing of presidential campaigns while 47% were opposed.
# # #
To view the original report, please use this link: Who's Going to Finance This?