(06/07/10) -

Americans Not Willing to Forgive South Carolina Governor Sanford

A majority of respondents think adultery shows that a politician lacks the integrity to hold public office.

A majority of respondents think adultery shows that a politician lacks the integrity to hold public office.

As South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford prepares for his last months in office, many Americans maintain negative views on his behavior and what it says about politicians, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In June 2009, Sanford admitted that he had an extramarital affair and reimbursed the state for the cost of a government-funded trip during which he saw a woman who is not his wife. The South Carolina General Assembly pondered several impeachment resolutions last year, but the process did not lead to the governor’s removal.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,004 American adults, 56 per cent of respondents think Sanford should resign his position as governor. One-in-four respondents (24%) do not think this move is necessary.

Republicans (63%), Independents (59%) and Democrats (53%) all agree that Sanford should resign his position as governor.

A high proportion of respondents (55%) agree with the notion that a politician who commits adultery lacks the integrity to hold public office. Conversely, three-in-ten respondents (31%) believe that adultery should not be a consideration when judging the integrity of a politician.

The findings show little fluctuation from an Angus Reid survey conducted in July 2009, which can be accessed here.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From May 13 to May 14, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,016 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States.