* Two polls show that despite all the media hype and rampant doom and gloom forecasts, Chicago-area residents support hosting the NATO summit this weekend. First up, Tribune…

A total of 59 percent of voters in the six-county metropolitan area and 58 percent of city voters agreed that hosting NATO would improve Chicago’s international standing, the poll found. About 3 out of 10 surveyed disagreed. […]

More than 6 in 10 polled said that regardless of whether they agreed with the protesters’ varied messages, they had a right to protest. The survey of 1,180 regional voters, including 700 in Chicago, was conducted May 2-10. It had an error margin of 2.9 percentage points overall, and 3.7 percentage points in the city.

The poll also found that 61 percent of Chicago-area residents thought that the protesters “should be protesting” NATO.

* Next up, a We Ask America poll for Fox Chicago…

Do you approve of the summit?

* Approve: 65%
* Disapprove: 29%

Will it boost the economy?

* Yes: 60%
* No: 33%

Is it an inconvenience?

* Yes 40%
* No 55%
* Uncertain 5%

Is it worth it?

* Yes 56%
* No 31%
* Uncertain 13%

Discuss.

* Related…

* NATO summit gives Chicago coveted global spotlight

* Chicago cops proclaim readiness for NATO protests

* Navigating the city during NATO summit will be a trip

* Busloads of protesters head to Chicago for NATO Summit