Sixty-one percent (61%) of American adults believe that Republican leaders have been “protecting [Mark] Foley for several years.” A Rasmussen Reports national opinion survey conducted Tuesday and Wednesday nights shows that only 21% believe that the leadership “just learn[ed] about Foley’s problems last week.”

The data supports speculation that this issue could have a devastating impact on Republican prospects at the polls this fall. Even among Republicans, 31% believe the GOP leadership has been protecting Foley. Just under half (46%) of the GOP faithful believe that Congressional leaders just learned about the problem.

Not surprisingly, Democrats overwhelmingly believe that the Republican leaders have been protecting Foley for years (84% of Democrats hold that view).

Perhaps more significant politically, 69% of those not affiliated with either major party believe that leadership has been protecting Foley. Only 9% of unaffiliated voters believe the GOP leaders just learned of the problem last week. How much of an impact this will have on individual Election 2006 races will not be known until our next round of polling is complete.

Older Americans, those most likely to vote, are least likely to believe that Republican leaders just learned about this issue.

The survey also found that just 45% of Americans would allow their son or daughter to be a Congressional intern. Thirty-five percent (35%) would not, while 20% are not sure. Higher-income Americans and Investors are more likely than others to do so.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans say they are following news of the Foley story somewhat or very closely.

In response to a generic ballot question, 47% of Americans say they will vote for a Democrat this November and 34% will vote for a Republican. That 13-point advantage is up five from an eight-point edge held by Democrats in August. See our Election 2006 page for polls on individual Senate races. Our Senate Balance of Power summary shows 49 seats in the Republican column at the moment and 49 for the Democrats.

The Foley issue has had little or no impact on President Bush’s Job Approval ratings at this time.

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