Poll: Cheney's Health Not An Issue

CBS News/New York Times Poll, March 8-12, 2001

(CBS)  Despite Vice President Dick Cheney's recent angioplasty to reopen a blocked artery, a majority of Americans are not concerned about his ability to serve as vice president. However, concern has risen since November of last year, when Cheney suffered a mild heart attack, although most Americans believe it is likely he will be able to serve his four-year term.

CONCERN ABOUT CHENEY'S HEALTH
	Concerned	Not concerned
Now	40%	58%
	Concerned	Not concerned
11/00	33%	64%

Fifty-eight percent say Cheney's recent heart surgery, along with his history of heart problems, does not give them cause for concern about his ability to serve effectively as vice president. Last November, however, a higher 64 percent felt that way. In addition, concern about the vice president's ability to serve effectively has risen since last fall. Currently, 40 percent of Americans are concerned about Cheney's ability to serve as vice president, up from 33 percent in November.

Cheney's health is more of a concern to Democrats than Republicans: 55 percent of Democrats are concerned about Vice President Cheney's ability to serve effectively and 43 percent are not concerned. However, only 21 percent of Republicans think Cheney's health is a concern, while 78 percent say they are not concerned.

CHENEY'S HEALTH INTERFERE WITH JOB
	Will	Will Not
	33%	60%

Americans do not believe that Cheney's health problems will interfere with his ability to do his job as vice president. Sixty percent say his health will not be an issue and 33 percent say it will.


CHENEY'S ROLE

Although some have said that Vice President Cheney's role in the current administration is greater than that of other Vice Presidents, a majority of the public disagrees with this view. When asked directly about Cheney's role in the current administration, 53 percent feel his role is just as important as that of other vice presidents, a third say it is more important, and only 6 percent say his role is less important than other vice presidents.

There are differences along party lines regarding the perception of Cheney's role in George W. Bush's administration. Nearly half (45 percent) of Republicans feel Cheney's role in the current administration is more important than that of past vice presidents, and 44 percent feel it is about the same. Only 29 percent of Democrats, however, say that Cheney's role is more important than those who have held the job before him, while 53 percent feel his role is about the same.

Since they are not overly concerned about his health problems, most Americans believe it is likely that the vice president will be able to serve his entire four-year term. Eight in ten people say it is likely that Cheney will complete his term and only 16 percent believe it is unlikely he will do so.

OPINION OF CHENEY

Americans' overall opinions of Dick Cheney haven't changed much since January. Currently, 34 percent of the public has a favorable view of him and 11 percent view him unfavorably. Over one half of Americans, however, have yet to form an opinion of the vice president.

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This poll was conducted by telephone March 8-12, 2001, among 1,105 adults nationwide. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus three percentage points for results based on the entire sample. Sampling error for subgroups may be higher.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.



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