Most Americans might have a difficult time sorting through the nuances of the Congressional debate over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but they are a bit more likely to trust Democrats in Congress than President Bush on the topic.

Just 25% of Americans say they followed news of the Congressional debate Very Closely. Another 31% said they followed it Somewhat Closely. Forty percent (40%) say they trust Democrats in Congress more than the President to establish “guidelines for wiretapping and other surveillance techniques.” Thirty-six percent (36%) trust the President more while 23% are not sure who to trust.

As to the underlying issues, the country remains fairly evenly divided. Thirty-two percent (32%) believe that our legal system worries too much about national security at the expense of individual right. Twenty-five percent (25%) believe there is too much concern about individual rights at the expense of national security and 29% believe the balance is about right.

While still divided, those figures reflect a shift from last August when a plurality believed there was too much concern about individual liberty.

As you would expect, there are significant partisan differences on this question.

Forty-one percent (41%) of Republicans believe there is too much concern for individual rights while 36% of the GOP faithful believe the balance is about right.

Among Democrats, 44% believe there is too much concern about national security while 24% believe the balance is about right.

As for those not affiliated with either major party, 35% say our legal system is too concerned with protecting national security, 29% say the balance is about right, and 19% say there is too much concern for individual liberty.

Looking ahead to Election 2008, 48% of Americans say they trust one of the Democratic Presidential candidates more on the issue of establishing surveillance guidelines—25% pick Barack Obama, 23% Hillary Clinton. Thirty-three percent (33%) trust Republican John McCain more than either Democrat.

McCain is overwhelmingly preferred by Republicans. Democrats are fairly evenly divided between Clinton and Obama. Among the unaffiliated, 27% trust Obama, 24% McCain, and 15% Clinton. But, a plurality, 33%, are not sure which candidate to trust on this issue.

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