Poll: Pelosi gets negative marks

PRINCETON, N.J., May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi draws negative marks from a majority of Americans on the harsh interrogation issue, a Gallup Poll indicates.

However, a polling of Democrats only gives Pelosi approval ratings.

The survey says 63 percent of respondents following the controversial issue closely disapprove of the speaker's handling of it and 30 percent approve.

At the same time, the poll indicates a majority approves the actions by U.S. President Obama and the CIA on the matter.

Democrats generally approve of Pelosi's actions in the survey, 45 percent to 31 percent.

Pelosi stirred the controversy by accusing the CIA of misleading her over alleged use of harsh techniques, such as waterboarding, on terrorism suspects.

She told a news conference the CIA had denied waterboarding was being used, even though government reports indicate it had been used a month earlier. The CIA denied any attempt to mislead her.

Results are based on telephone interviews Tuesday with 997 adults, with a stated 95 percent confidence the maximum margin of sampling error is 3 percentage points.