Polls tell different stories on wiretap

WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) -- Separate polls by Newsweek and The Washington Post reached different conclusions about public attitudes on National Security Agency phone record monitoring.

The Newsweek poll released Saturday found 53 percent of Americans believe the security agency has gone too far in invading people's privacy, Editor & Publisher reported.

A Washington Post/ABC survey released Friday showed 63 percent of Americans said they found the NSA program to be an acceptable way to investigate terrorism -- with 44 percent strongly endorsing the program. Only 35 percent in the Washington Post/ABC poll said the program was unacceptable.

Most likely views changed dramatically in one day because of negative media reports -- including many from conservative commentators such as MSNBC's Joe Scarborough -- E&P said.

The Newsweek poll also showed President George W. Bush's public approval rating was 35 percent -- down one point since the last Newsweek poll.