A Quarter of Americans Suspect So, according to an ABCNEWS.com Poll

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2000--

ABCNEWS.com Poll Conducted in Correlation with ABCNEWS.com's Webcast, "Chris Wallace's Internet Expose: UFO2000"

"Greetings, Earthling. Take us to your leader."

Some 25% of Americans might not be surprised by that salutation, that's how many suspect that alien beings have paid a visit to this earthly realm.

Most of them don't know it, of course. Two-thirds of those who think aliens have visited concede that it's just speculation on their part. Just a third of them believe there's actual evidence of alien stopovers, which could range from Ezekiel to Roswell, N.M., by way of the Incas.

A larger group believes intelligent life exists in a physical form on other planets: 47 percent think that's the case, while about as many, 45 percent, do not believe.

There are some demographic differences: Men are a bit more apt than women to believe intelligent alien life exists, 51 percent to 43 percent. Younger adults are more credulous. But less-educated adults are more dubious, as are Republicans. No alien tax cut for them.

This poll was done in support of "Chris Wallace's Internet Expose" special on UFOs on ABCNEWS.com. See http://abcnews.go.com/onair/correspondents/wallace/internetexpose.

NET TABLE

(IF VISITED) Do you say that based on evidence you've seen or read, or is it just your speculation?

Do you believe in intelligent life on other planets?

Among those who think intelligent aliens exist, just under six in 10 take the next step, which is to think they've physically visited

Earth. This computes to 27 percent of all adults, or more than enough to keep Star Trek reruns on air well into the next millennium.

Note: the language in this poll was crafted to exclude spiritual alien life and telepathic alien visits.

As noted, 66 percent of those who think aliens have visited say that's "just speculation" on their part, as opposed to an opinion based on evidence they've seen or read. The number who think there's actual evidence of alien visits translates to nine percent of the adult population. For comparison, in a famous question some years back, eight percent said Elvis might still be alive. Perhaps - and perhaps he's only visiting.

METHODOLOGY - This ABCNews.com survey was conducted by telephone Oct. 4-8, 2000, among a random national sample of 1,007 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Fieldwork by ICR-International Communications Research of Media, Pa.

Analysis by Gary Langer.

ABC News polls can be found at ABCNEWS.com on the Internet at:

http://www.abcnews.com/sections/us/PollVault/PollVault.html

Here are the full results:

Do you think intelligent life exists in a physical form on other planets, or not?

(IF YES) Do you think intelligent beings from other planets have or have not physically visited the Earth?

NET TABLE

CONTACT:
ABCNEWS.com, New York
Lauren Kapp, 212/456-2478
lauren.kapp@abc.com