Poll: Americans expect politicians to cheat

A plurality of Americans believe most members of Congress have extramarital affairs, according to a new national poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports.

The poll, conducted last week "following Nevada Sen. John Ensign's admission that he cheated on his wife with a campaign staffer," also found the nation evenly split on whether those who have affairs should leave office.

Asked whether they think most federal lawmakers are cheaters, 37 percent said yes, 24 percent said no and 38 percent weren't sure.

As for whether cheaters should resign or be forced out of office, 40 percent said they should, 41 percent disagreed and 18 percent were undecided. Republicans were more likely than Democrats or independents to say politicians who have affairs should leave office.

Sixty-one percent said their trust in a politician caught in a sex scandal was diminished.