Chabot Checks Political Climate

It is the political temperature back in the home district that conservative Republican Congressman Steve Chabot is checking these days, reports CBS News Correspondent Phil Jones.

"It's about one third Republican, one third Democrat, and one third Independent," says Chabot. "It's a pretty diverse district. It's a swing district."

Chabot was targeted by the White House in this year's election, and won his third term by only 13,000 votes.

Congressman Chabot's district includes most of the city of Cincinnati, but the core of his support is in the more conservative suburbs, and voters are not afraid to tell him what they think about impeachment and President Clinton.

"Most of the people that want to discuss this matter are very displeased with the President," says Chabot.

The last time Chabot paid attention to impeachment was a quarter of a century ago. He was a college Republican who had voted for Nixon.

"I felt that he had done shameful things and office and deserve to be removed from office," Chabot admits.

While claiming he's still undecided on how to vote, Chabot gives every indication that he has made up his mind.

"Everything I've seen thus far certainly points that this president has committed perjury under oath, and I consider perjury under oath to be a high crime and misdemeanor,"Chabot asserts.

Ohio's first district Congressman will be in his front row seat to history Thursday when the Judiciary Committee impeachment hearings begin. Steve Chabot says he'll vote his conscience. But the reality is, his conservative constituency is part of his conscience: his political conscience.