Just 38% of U.S. voters think that the government should require all radio stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary.

Forty-seven percent (47%) oppose government-imposed political balance on radio stations, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure which course is better.

These findings are a dramatic nine-point drop-off in support for the Fairness Doctrine from a survey last August when 47% said the government should require all radio and television stations to offer balanced political commentary.

Only 26% of voters believe conservatives have an unfair advantage in the media, the argument several senior congressional Democrats use in pushing for the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine. Sixty-four percent (64%) disagree.

Most (52%) liberals say conservatives have an unfair advantage, while 79% of conservatives and 64% of moderates disagree.

Even a majority of Democratic voters (53%) say that conservatives do not have an unfair advantage in the media.

Seventy-four percent (74%) of voters overall say it is possible for just about any political view to be heard in today’s media with the Internet, cable networks, satellite radio, newspapers, radio and TV available. Just 19% disagree.

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But 51% say it is at least somewhat likely that the Democratic-controlled Congress will restore the Fairness Doctrine, which requires holders of broadcast licenses to present balanced political coverage of important issues, as determined by the Federal Communications Commission. Fourteen percent (14%) believe it is Very Likely.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) say Congress is unlikely to restore the Fairness Doctrine, which the FCC abolished in 1987, arguing that it was unconstitutional and no longer necessary given the variety of media outlets available to Americans. Six percent (6%) say it is not at all likely to be restored.

Political liberals complain that conservative opinion unfairly dominates talk radio. Conservatives counter that liberal opinion dominates most other media outlets and that liberal talk radio has failed in the commercial marketplace.

In a survey just before Election Day in November, 68% of voters said reporters covering a political campaign try to help the candidate they want to win, and 51% thought they were trying to help Democratic candidate Barack Obama in 2008. Only seven percent (7%) said reporters were trying to help Republican candidate John McCain.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Republicans oppose government-mandated political balance on all radio stations, while the plurality of Democrats (49%) support it. Voters not affiliated with either major party also are opposed by a two-to-one margin.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of voters overall say they have followed recent news stories about proposals to restore the Fairness Doctrine, including 28% who have followed them Very Closely. Conservatives are following news about the Fairness Doctrine more closely than liberals and moderates.

Americans in other surveys have complained about what they view as a lack of balance in the media. Earlier this month, a majority said the news media make global warming appear worse than it really is.

In mid-November, 46% said most reporters and media outlets paint a worse picture of the economy than the facts warrant.

In October of last year, 74% said the media report more on negative campaigning than the issues.

Two months earlier, 55% of voters said media bias was a bigger problem in politics today than big campaign contributions.

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