THE politicians and editorial writers clamoring for Tom Eagleton's exit from the Democratic ticket do not appear to reflect the views of the public. According to a nationwide telephone sampling of 1,015 eligible voters conducted for TIME last week by Crossley Surveys Inc., the American people are more sympathetic to Eagleton than the headlines suggest. The questions:
What effect did the news that Eagleton had undergone psychiatric treatment for nervous exhaustion have on your choice for President?
No effect: 76.7%
Switched from McGovern to Nixon: 2.6%
Switched from neutral to Nixon: 2.6%
More likely to vote for McGovern: 3.8%
Don't know: 13%
May not vote: 1.3%
In...