Toplines: Wiretapping

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters

June 17, 2008

1* Some people say that there is a natural tension between protecting individual rights and national security. In the United States today, does our legal system worry too much about protecting individual rights, too much about protecting national security, or is the balance about right?

32% Worry too much about protecting individual rights

32% Worry too much about protecting national security

27% Balance is about right

8% Not sure

2* Okay… looking ahead, which Presidential candidate do you trust the most to establish guidelines for wiretapping and other surveillance techniques—John McCain, or Barack Obama?

43% John McCain

42% Barack Obama

15% Not sure

3* How likely is that your phone has ever been wire tapped by the federal government?

6% Very likely

9% Somewhat likely

35% Not very likely

40% Not at all likely

10% Not sure

4* If the government wants internet providers or telecommunications companies to turn over customer records, should a court-ordered search warrant be required?

69% Yes

17% No

13% Not sure

5* Several telecommunications companies went along with the federal government’s request for information and wire taps without a warrant. Should these companies be subject to lawsuits?

44% Yes

41% No

15% Not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence