At the same time, the survey, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds an 11-point jump in the belief that disclosures by Snowden, a former NSA contractor now holed up in Russia, have harmed U.S. security: Sixty percent say so, vs. 49 percent last summer.
Many fewer, 29 percent, think his leaks have done “a great deal” of harm to U.S. security. But this too is up, by 7 points. And the belief that Snowden damaged U.S. security is a key driver in support for prosecuting him.
Finally, young adults are sharply different than their elders in views on Snowden, who turned 30 in June. Just 35 percent of those under age 30 say he should be charged with a crime, compared with 57 percent of those 30 and up. And 56 percent of young adults say he did the “right thing” in leaking NSA documents. Just 32 percent of their elders agree.