WASHINGTON (CNN) – A bare majority of Americans have a favorable view of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll out Tuesday.
Fifty-one percent hold a favorable view of the longtime senator while 35 percent have an unfavorable view.
"Three-quarters of Democrats have a favorable view of Kennedy, but two-thirds of Republicans have an unfavorable view of him," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "He is most popular in the Northeast and least popular in the South."
The survey of 1,136 adult Americans conducted by telephone on July 31-August 3, 2009 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Kennedy's sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, died early Tuesday morning. He has been absent for much of the 111th Congress, because he is battling brain cancer.
From CNN Politics
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Quote: "Whether you support his politics or not, this man deserves everyones respect for the 47 years of solid faithful service he has given to this country."
Who wouldn't keep a job that pays this well with this many benefits, and retirement packages?
I'm sick of people saying they are public servants and demanding our respect. If they deserve it yes, but not just because they sat in congress for ten terms.
Policeman, Fireman, ect do deserve our respect.
Republicans have NO ONE that even comes close to Kennedy or his family. They have collectively done more for America than the Republican party as a whole. The thing is they really care about people, something the Republicans could actually care less about.
"...the type of politician other Senators should emulate." See, Senator Ensign (R-NV). If you had just drowned your mistress before she could rat you out, you wouldn't be in this mess.
He is most popular in the Northeast and least popular in the South. Much like unsweetened ice tea... oh, and labor unions and the mafia.
Where did you take this poll...in Massachusetts?
Nothing gets up the hackles of the GOP more than a Kennedy does.
When your party is leaderless, without a message, and sinking fast, what is left for the GOP to do but to mouth out about the ill and the dying?
Great job guys!
of course, they are kennedys....
I admire and respect Ted Kennedy. But at the same time, because of his health, he should step down. Giving the slightest chance that he will finish up his term, he won't run again in 2012. He governor could always appoint or even choose an special election.
Is it any big surprise that the hypocritical Bible banging republican bigots in the south don't like Kennedy? Please, not one of them is capable of an original thought or an act of true unselfish unjudgmental kindness. There is not one republican who is a decent human being.
AND 51% OF EVERYONE EVER LIVING thinks that poll results can be slanted to support whatever headlines the news agency is trumpeting any particular day..
Well, you know how it is with those rightwing Republican religious types who profess to be Christian but cannot forgive or tolerate anyone who has a different opinion than theirs.
What exactly is CNN's point?
Edward Kennedy is
1) a senator from Massachussetts so only Massachussans (sic) and
b) is rapidly fading from the scene due to old age and health.
If he does have one lasting national legacy, it is that Kennedy helped give Obama's presidential campaign wings with which to fly.
But even that's a done deal.
So like most of what the media published, this is NOT news.
The GOP loathe the Kennedys because the Kennedsy are something they can never aspire to – intelligent, caring, successful, good-looking and self-aware of their surroundings.
keep fighting for health care! his legacy of civil service will live on
He's a LION of the left.
Of course we love him, him and his whole family.
Love you Ted.
We all have short-comings, but few have done as much for Man-Kind as the Kennedys.
My goodness there is a lot of "unChristian" people out there. Ted Kennedy has more than paid his dues to his fellow Americans... give him the respect he deserves. As for past discretions... these self-professed Bible lovers should remember ... "he who is without sin... etc. etc."
There are those of us who give so much and then there are just those.
Oh well, the Republicans hate everybody and everything.
What's new?
I hope that Senator Kennedy has a chance to see the healthcare reform that he has worked so long and hard for pass. Like most of us, he has not had a perfect personal life, but he has spent his public career working on behalf of people like me. God Bless you, Senator.
This poll tells you MORE about CNN's "Poll List" than Ted Kennedy. Did CNN buy their list from Moveon.Org??
The Kennedy family have made many contributions to society over the years. The repos will bring up all kinds of stuff to defame them.Chapaquitk happened a long time age. Eunice was a wonderful woman who did more for special needs than ol Palin will ever do.So I know she would never have been for the health care if she felt it would put special needs people on trial or having to make life and death dicessions. Thats the scare tatic used by the repos. Senator Kennedy has always championed health care and it is sad to know he is suffering right now.
Is he still driving up costs for the people in his insurance pool?
Good thing we don't have ObamaCare, isn't it? Not that he, as a government employee, would be expected to be in the same pool as the rest of us unwashed masses.
Why was the poll done in the first place? Not sure the results are that surprising.
We need to pass the healthcare bill for Ted and everyone else. There's nothing wrong with civilized debating and protesting that gives everyone a chance to be heard. The problem with the Republican protesting at town hall events about America's Affordable Health Choices Act is that it is being organized from the top down by wealthy special interest groups, like the Conservatives for Patients' Rights. They are led by Rick Scott, who was formerly in charge of Columbia HCA, a health care company that was busted for overcharging government programs and had to pay $1.7 billion in fines a while back. They are working with the PR firm that ran the Swift Boat ads against John Kerry in 2004. Networks like Fox are blatantly lying about what's in the bill (i.e. death panels, forced euthanasia, outlawing private insurance, etc.) and so yes, people are getting worked up over it, because they are getting worked by the special interests and don't know it. They get the hard-working, middle class people out there protesting health care reform that would protect them from financial ruin in the event of an illness or accident when they're the ones who need it the most. It's actually sad.
what a shock, the south hates a man from mass.
next thing you'll tell me, texans hate us californians.