CNN Poll: Powell tops Cheney, Limbaugh

By Paul Steinhauser
CNN Deputy Political Director
WASHINGTON (CNN) - As Colin Powell fires back against Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh in the latest skirmish of the battle over the future of the Republican Party, a new national poll indicates that Americans have a much more favorable opinion of Powell than Cheney or Limbaugh.

People who identified themselves as Republicans, however, viewed the three almost equally.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey, released Monday, suggests that 70 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of Powell, who was secretary of state during President George W. Bush's first term, and who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Persian Gulf War.

Only 30 percent of those polled had a favorable view of Limbaugh, the popular conservative radio talk show host, with 53 percent saying they hold an unfavorable opinion.

In poll numbers released Thursday, 37 percent said they had a favorable opinion of Dick Cheney, with 55 percent indicating they held an unfavorable view of the former vice president.

Among Republicans it was a different story. The poll suggests that 66 percent of Republicans had a favorable view of Cheney, 64 percent gave Powell a thumbs up, and 62 percent viewed Limbaugh in a favorable way.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted May 14-17, with 1,010 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.