Judge Ito Better-Known Than House Speaker Interest In Simpson Trial Stable, But Lower Than Last June

More Americans can identify Lance Ito as the judge in the O.J. Simpson murder case than Newt Gingrich as speaker of the House, a survey finds.

Paradoxically, the start of the Simpson trial has not increased the public’s interest in the case, said the Times Mirror Center survey released Thursday.

The trial ranked third in news interest in the past month behind the earthquake in Japan, which captured the attention of 25 percent of those questioned, and recent violence at abortion clinics, at 24 percent. The Simpson trial was followed closely by 23 percent.

The percentage of Americans following the trial is virtually unchanged from the pre-trial period and substantially lower than the 48 percent who were following the story closely last June when Simpson was arrested.

Sixty-four percent of Americans know Ito is the judge; only 52 percent could name Gingrich as the new speaker of the House.

Opinion about the president’s nomination of Dr. Henry Foster for surgeon general met with 39 percent approval and 24 percent disapproval.

The public tended to shove aside other stories that have captivated Washington.

“Fewer than one in five paid very close attention to news about the balanced budget amendment and activities of the new Republican leadership,” the survey said.

It cited these other news developments and the percentages of Americans who followed them “very closely”:

Activities of new Republican leaders, 19 percent.

Clinton’s loan guarantees to Mexico, 14 percent.

Balanced budget debate, 13 percent.

Baseball strike, 12 percent.

The survey was conducted among 1,209 adult Americans last weekend.

“Pluralities think the Republican leadership has better ideas than Clinton and the Democrats about reducing the size of government, balancing the budget and reforming the political system,” according to the survey.

“But Americans also think Clinton or the Democrats in Congress have better ideas than the GOP about reducing crime, improving the job situation, and cutting taxes for the middle class.”

The survey also found:

The public believes, by a 56 percent to 37 percent margin, that it is more important to take steps to balance the budget than to cut taxes for the middle class.

Gingrich’s favorable ratings increased from 25 percent to 41 percent, while his negative ratings increased from 28 percent to 37 percent.

Clinton’s job approval has improved to 55 percent from 51 percent in December. His disapproval rating dropped from 46 percent to 42 percent.