hree-in-ten (28%) think that the media should almost always report if a candidate has beentreated by a psychiatrist in the past, with one-in-five interested in whether a candidate has takenantidepressants. Of least interest to the public is whether a female candidate has had an abortion --17% say this should always be reported. Republicans and Democrats have markedly different views about what is and is not newsworthy. Oneight out of the 13 examples, Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats to endorse amore aggressive role for the media. The most polarizing issue involves marital infidelity. Fully 57% ofRepublicans say that if a candidate is having an affair during the campaign, news organizations shouldalmost always report on this. Only 30% of Democrats share this view. Republicans are also tougher than Democrats on lying. Seven-in-ten GOP backers (71%) think themedia should always report if a candidate has exaggerated his or her military or academic record.Among Democrats, a bare majority consider such stories newsworthy (52% and 53%, respectively). Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say the press should pursue stories about pastmarijuana use: 26% of Republicans vs. 17% of Democrats think this should always be reported.However, when it comes to cocaine use, the two groups are largely in agreement -- 36% ofRepublicans and 35% of Democrats consider this highly newsworthy....
