RNC POLL RESULTS: OVER 75% OF VOTERS FAVOR MISSILE DEFENSE
"Americans need and want missile defense;" says RNC Chief
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MIKE COLLINS
THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1998 TEL.: 202-863-8550
WASHINGTON (July 16) - Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson today announced that a new poll has found overwhelming support for the Republican goal of building a national missile defense system.
The results of the poll: 76% in favor, 19% opposed. *
"Americans do not support the Clinton/Gore policy of deliberately keeping America vulnerable to missiles fired in anger or by accident," Nicholson said. "They agree with Republicans who believe it is the government’s Constitutional duty to protect Americans, to provide for the common defense."
On Wednesday, the bipartisan Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States reported unanimously that "the U.S. might well have little or no warning" before rogue states are capable of launching a ballistic-missile attack against the U.S.
"Ballistic missiles armed with (weapons of mass destruction) payloads pose a strategic threat to the United States," the commission concluded. "This is not a distant threat."
The commission is led by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
"The Rumsfeld Commission report, coupled with the results of our poll clearly indicate that America needs missile defense -- and wants missile defense, " Nicholson said. "Only Democrats stand in the way."
* The poll asked the following question:
Recent reports say the Chinese have 13 long range missiles targeted at the west coast of America. Knowing this, would you favor or oppose an effective National Missile Defense system capable of defending US territory against limited ballistic attack?
55% Strongly favor; 21% Somewhat favor
9% Somewhat oppose, 10% Strongly oppose
The poll was conducted for the Republican National Committee by Public Opinion Strategies; 800 registered voters were contacted between June 27 and June 30, 1998; margin of error: +/- 3.46%.
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