New Judicial Watch/Zogby Poll: 81.7% of Americans Say Political Corruption Played a “Major Role” in Financial Crisis

Obama with Slight Edge over McCain as Candidate Trusted Most to Combat Corruption

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released the results of a nationwide poll conducted by Zogby International concerning the American people’s attitudes towards political corruption. Among the poll’s highlights of 1,211 likely voters, conducted October 16-19, 2008 (margin of error is +/- 2.9%):

• 62.6% said they “strongly agree” with the statement, “…political corruption played a major role in our nation’s recent financial crisis.” An additional 19.1% said they “somewhat agree” with that statement.
• 46.9% said they trust Barack Obama more than John McCain to combat government corruption in Washington, while 43.2% preferred Senator McCain over Senator Obama. Sen. Biden (46.8%) also had a slight lead on this question over Gov. Palin (44.7%)
• 30.5% said Congress has become “more corrupt” since Democrats took control of Congress away from Republicans. Another 8.5% said Congress had become “less corrupt,” while 55.9% said corruption had “remained about the same” since Democrats took control.
• 44% said they trust Democrats more than Republicans to combat corruption in Washington, while 37.4% preferred Republicans to combat corruption.
• 69.2% said they “strongly agree” with the statement that corruption is a “significant problem in Washington, DC,” while an additional 22.7% said they “somewhat agree” with that statement.
• 47.5% of respondents said they “strongly agree” with the statement that “bigger government leads to more corruption,” while an additional 25.4% said they “somewhat agree” with that statement.

“This poll shows Americans have an overwhelming concern about political corruption. There is no doubt that Americans believe that the financial crisis and political corruption are tied,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “And our poll shows the presidential candidate who is best seen as able to combat Washington corruption should go on to win the Oval Office. Both Obama and McCain would do well to pay serious attention to the political corruption issue and better address it in the coming two weeks.”

For the further details on these results, including party/demographic breakdowns, visit www.judicialwatch.org