As usual, the poll shows Anderson is a polarizing figure along political and religious lines. The mayor's approval among Republicans is 20 percent, with 79 percent disapproving. Democrats like Anderson, to the tune of 87 percent. Only 11 percent of Democrats disapprove.

Self-proclaimed independents are less dramatically split: 58 percent approve, while 38 percent disapprove.

And Anderson's biggest fans are typically non-Mormon, while his biggest detractors are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

His support is 71 percent among the city's Catholics and 77 percent among Protestants. Only 23 percent of "very active" LDS respondents in Salt Lake City approve of his job performance; 74 percent disapprove.

His popularity among "somewhat active" Mormons is split 48 percent to 47 percent.

That has generally been the rule during Anderson's administration. Only once, in September 2002, did Anderson have much support among LDS residents. Then, 53 percent said they approved of the job he was doing.

Anderson and others assumed that support was in response to the success of the 2002 Olympics. His LDS supporters slipped to 36 percent by December 2002, shortly after the mayor's fight with the LDS Church over public-access easements on the Main Street Plaza.

To varying degrees, the same political and religious divisions exist on questions of Anderson's activism. Fully 89 percent of Protestants support his fight against global warming; only 44 percent of active LDS residents do.

Anderson's opposition to the Iraq war is embraced by 86 percent of the city's Democrats but only 8 percent of Republicans. Ninety-six percent of Republicans oppose the mayor's calls for impeachment, as do 92 percent of very active Mormons. Meanwhile, 77 percent of Democrats agree with him on impeachment, as do 62 percent of Catholics.

Anderson is also slightly more popular among men than women, with male respondents giving him a 62-percent approval rating and women 55 percent.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com