Most Americans view Snowden as a whistleblower rather than a traitor. Poll: Snowden still a 'whistleblower'

As news broke Thursday that NSA leaker Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia, a new poll shows that a majority of Americans view him as a whistleblower rather than a traitor.

Asked whether Snowden is more of a whistleblower or more of a traitor, those polled split 55 percent to 34 percent for whistleblower, according to a Quinnipiac survey released Thursday.


Americans’ viewpoints have been steady: It was the same split as in a similar poll conducted one month ago.

( PHOTOS: 10 famous/infamous whistleblowers)

Quinnipiac surveyed 1,468 voters from July 28-31, before Russia’s move was announced, for the poll, which has an error margin of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.