The ethical standards of politicians and corporate CEO’s are routinely the subject of skeptical comment from voters throughout the nation, but, at least in Illinois, voters believe politicians are more corrupt.

A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Illinois voters found that 48% say the politicians are more corrupt while just 22% hold the opposite view. Thirty percent (30%) are not sure.

There is a huge partisan divide on this question. Republicans by a 68% to eight percent (8%) margin say politicians are more corrupt. Voters not affiliated with either major party share that view four-to-one. However, Democrats are evenly divided: 34% say CEO’s are more corrupt, 31% say it’s the politicians, and 36% are not sure.

Illinois voters at all income levels tend to see politicians as more corrupt, but the gap grows wider among those with higher incomes. There is little difference by age.

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The survey was conducted the day after Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested. Eighty-four percent (84%) of Illinois voters say he should resign and 70% say he should go to jail. The scandal has also hurt Jesse Jackson, Jr. who is no longer the top choice of Illinois Democrats to replace Obama.

Blagojevich is the second Illinois governor in a row to be indicted on federal corruption charges. His Republican predecessor, George Ryan, was convicted in 2006 and is currently serving a 6-1/2 prison sentence. In a poll last week, two-thirds of adults in Illinois (66%) opposed a presidential pardon for Ryan.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Illinois voters say the Blagojevich practice of exchanging favors for campaign contributions is typical of the way most politicians operate. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree. A plurality of Republicans and unaffiliated voters say that the practice is typical while a plurality of Democrats disagree.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of men say the practice is typical while a plurality of women (42%) disagree.

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