Poll: Campaign Finance Reform

While the Senate leadership promises a debate on campaign finance reform before its expected October adjournment, the public expresses support for a key proposal of the McCain/Feingold bill - banning "soft money" contributions. Fifty-one percent of Americans would like to see a ban on unlimited contributions to political parties, while 42 percent oppose banning these contributions.

BANNING SOFT MONEY

Republicans are more supportive of banning soft money than are Democrats, perhaps in response to charges of 1996 Democratic National Committee fundraising improprieties. Fifty-six percent of Republicans favor banning soft money, while Democrats are divided.

The public also supports the current practice of limiting individual contributions to candidates. When asked to choose between limiting individual contributions and allowing individuals to contribute as much as they would like, 62 percent of Americans express a preference for limiting individual contributions. Only 36 percent would allow unlimited contributions.

PREFERENCES ON INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

In a somewhat ironic twist, those who can most easily afford political contributions - high income Americans - are also the most likely to support limits on individual contributions.

Although majorities favor limits on contributions to both candidates and parties, the public is unwilling to take the more dramatic reform step of publicly financing campaigns. Fifty-eight percent of Americans oppose using tax money to finance political campaigns, while only 37 percent favor public financing.

PUBLIC FINANCING OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 722 adults, interviewed by telephone July 13-14, 1999. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus four percentage points based on the entire sample. The sampling error for subgroups is higher. For full question wording and poll findings, please contact the CBS Election and Survey Unit at 212-975-5554.