Is There Public Support for the Impeachment Inquiry?

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, took what many commentators consider to be a big risk this week when she formally started an impeachment inquiry into President Trump. Given that the Republican-controlled Senate would have the final say on any conviction, the chances of it getting over all of the hurdles currently seem low and risk solidifying the president's base, rather than turning it against him.

Currently though, where does most of the weight of public opinion lie? According to a new survey by Marist Poll for NPR and PBS NewsHour, it is predictably tight. 49 percent say they approve of the latest escalation against the president, while 46 registered their disapproval. A crucial 5 percent remain 'unsure'.