Republicans are less likely than Democrats to support a candidate who was unfaithful, poll shows

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http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0712/p03s03-uspo.html

How US voters react to politicians' infidelity
Republicans are less likely than Democrats to support a candidate who was unfaithful, poll shows.
By Daniel B. Wood | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Los Angeles - Sexual scandals don't automatically pack a knockout punch for today's politicians, but the circumstances matter to voters.

That's the view of political observers as they assess the political fallout from the most recent revelations involving Sen. David Vitter (R) of Louisiana and Antonio Villaraigosa (D), the mayor of Los Angeles.

On Monday, Senator Vitter admitted to a "very serious sin" after his phone number was found among the records of a Washington, D.C., escort service that's under investigation. Last week, Mayor Villaraigosa apologized for an extramarital affair – his second – which has led his wife to file for divorce.

While such episodes are never positive, voters these days are willing to forgive under the right circumstances, experts say.

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