A new Gallup poll found that “slim majorities” Americans are following the Benghazi and IRS scandals although most agree that the investigations should continue.
Fifty-four percent of those surveyed said they were very or somewhat closely following the news that IRS applied greater scrutiny to conservative political groups, 22 percent said they weren’t following the story too closely, and 24 percent said they weren’t following the IRS story at all.
Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said they were very or somewhat closely following the revelations into the Benghazi attack, 22 percent said they weren’t following the story too closely, and 24 percent said they weren’t following the IRS story at all.
Gallup called these numbers “comparatively low based on historical measures of other news stories over the last two decades.”
“Despite extensive news coverage of these stories in recent days, the level of attention being paid to each is below the average 60% of Americans who have closely followed more than 200 news stories Gallup has measured over the past several decades,” the polling organization said. “Additionally, Americans appear to be paying almost exactly the same levels of attention to both stories, despite the relative newness of the IRS story during the time in which this survey was in the field.”
Forty percent of Democrats surveyed were following the IRS story, while 67 percent of Republicans said they are. Forty-five percent of Democrats said they have been following Benghazi, while 66 percent of Republicans are.
Seventy-four percent said more investigation is needed for the IRS scandal and 69 percent want more scrutiny for Benghazi.
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