Poll: Most Support New TSA Measures

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

In the wake of a Thanksgiving holiday season marked by concerns that the Transportation Security Administration has gone too far with its new security procedures, a new CBS News poll finds that most Americans do not object to full-body x-ray machines or thorough pat-downs by TSA employees.

Seventy-six percent say airports should use full-body digital x-ray machines to screen passengers - the very machines that spurred a "national opt-out day" last Wednesday from opponents of the new measures. Just 19 percent oppose use of the machines. Still, support for the machines has dropped slightly, from 81 percent three weeks ago.

Passengers who refuse the screenings or are selected for additional examination can be given so-called "enhanced" pat-downs by TSA employees, a situation that sparked criticism from those who said they did not want agents touching their "junk."

There is more opposition here - 40 percent of Americans, including 44 percent of women, say these pat-downs are too intrusive. But a majority of Americans - 57 percent - say they are not.

That said, most Americans don't want to be on the receiving end of a pat-down. Fifty-seven percent said they would be uncomfortable receiving one, including 27 percent who say they would be very uncomfortable. Women are most likely to say they would be uncomfortable.

Few Americans - just seven percent in the survey - say the new procedures have caused them to not fly or change their travel plans.

And despite claims from some that the new procedures are simply the latest example of "security theater," most Americans believe they are effective.

Thirty-six percent say they are "very effective" at stopping terrorism, and 47 percent say they are "somewhat effective." Just 15 percent say they are not very or not at all effective.

Americans are split on how far the government should go: 42 percent are more concerned that the government will fail to improve airport anti-terrorism measures, while 43 percent are more concerned that it will employ measures that go too far in invading the personal privacy.

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This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.