Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that all this switching comes from a deep spiritual search, one should consider the reasons that the respondents cited for the switch.

In fact, only 2 respondents, of the 1,347 polled, cited campaign fund-raising when asked to name the nation's most important problem.

The respondents cited drugs as their greatest concern, he said, followed by education and violence.

Not a single respondent cited experience either as a university president or as a government official.

Skeptical respondents cited worries over electric power, road access, telephone service and business freedom.

Many respondents cited the fear of bad publicity about computer security.

Asked what they liked most about the Mayor, more respondents cited his personality and outspokenness than any other characteristic, program or policy.

No respondent generalised on a scale anything like that of the authors cited above.

Three respondents also cited deteriorating neighborhoods and drugs as the Mayor's "biggest failures."

However, respondents also cited "not finding the right one or someone who met my expectations" as the top key reason for delaying marriage.