Poll: Confederate flag is a symbol of Southern pride, not racism

The poll shows that 57% of Americans see the flag more as a symbol of Southern pride than as a symbol of racism, about the same as in 2000 when 59% said they viewed it as a symbol of pride. Opinions of the flag are sharply divided by race, and among whites, views are split by education.

Among African-Americans, 72% see the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism, just 25% of whites agree. In the South, the racial divide is even broader. While 75% of Southern whites describe the flag as a symbol of pride and 18% call it a symbol of racism, those figures are almost exactly reversed among Southern African-Americans, with just 11% seeing it as a sign of pride and 75% viewing it as a symbol of racism.

Among whites, there's a sharp divide by education, and those with more formal education are less apt to see the flag as a symbol of pride. Among whites with a college degree, 51% say it's a symbol of pride, 41% one of racism. Among those whites who do not have a college degree, 73% say it's a sign of Southern pride, 18% racism.

You can read the entire poll results here. They help explain the GOP's wariness over the debate, despite growing calls from Democrats and other critics for a new debate over Old South iconography.

In Georgia, critics want the state to quit celebrating Confederate Memorial Day and Confederate Heritage Month, and the state has already stopped selling license plateswith the Rebel battle emblem after Gov. Nathan Deal announced a "redesign" of the tags.

But Deal suggested in an interview that he has little appetite for more sweeping changes.

"We cannot deny our heritage," he said.

You can read more about Georgia's struggle with its Confederate legacy here.