DES MOINES (AP) - More Iowans support a statewide smoking ban than oppose it, according to a new Iowa Poll released Monday.

The poll, published in a copyright story in The Des Moines Register, showed 43 percent of Iowans surveyed support a statewide ban on smoking. Fewer than 25 percent oppose any kind of smoking ban.

The split comes as lawmakers consider banning smoking in most public places.

"I hate smoking. It's repulsive," said Nick Michelfelder, 25, an Urbandale man who is among Iowans who support a ban. "I don't mind people smoking outside. I just don't like being where people are smoking."

Carolyn Robertson, a nonsmoker from Iowa City, said the government is going too far if it bans smoking.

"That's taking away people's choices," Robertson said. "And I don't believe that the government - federal, state, or local - has the right to say you can't smoke. I think it should be up to private industry to determine whether they allow smoking."

The random telephone survey poll was conducted Feb. 17-20 by Selzer & Co. Inc. of Des Moines. It surveyed 801 Iowans. Of those, 133 said they were smokers. The poll's sampling margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.

The Iowa House passed a bill last week that would ban tobacco use in nearly all public places, except state-regulated casinos.

The bill moves to the Senate, where leaders said they were confident it would pass.

Gov. Chet Culver said he supports separate legislation that would leave it up to local governments to decide whether to enact a ban, although he has said he would consider signing a statewide ban.

Marilyn Sharpe, who moved to Iowa from Tennessee, was among the 31 percent who favored local control.

"I don't think the state has any business outlawing smoking," Sharpe said. "Let's have a little compromise and let the people who live there decide."