These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
34% Now Support U.S. Involvement in Libya
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
With the U.S. military now actively involved in Libya, voters are more supportive of an American role in the Libyan crisis but also are more critical of President Obama's handling of the situation.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey - taken over the last two nights - finds that 34% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the United States should get more directly involved in the Libyan crisis, up 12 points from 22% two weeks ago . Forty-eight percent (48%) say the United States should leave the situation alone, down from 63% in the previous survey. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure which course is best. (To see survey question wording, click here .)
Forty-one percent (41%) of voters rate the Obama administration's response to the situation in Libya as good or excellent, unchanged from earlier in the month. But 28% now say the administration is doing a poor job, up from 21%.
One likely explanation for the increased support for U.S. involvement in Libya is the United Nations' approval of the use of multi-national air strikes to help rebels attempting to overthrow the government of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters say they are more supportive of American involvement in Libya now that the U.N. has approved the mission. Fifteen percent (15%) say the U.N. action has made them less supportive, while 32% say it has had no impact on their opinion.
Fifty percent (50%) think a change in the government of Libya will be good for the United States, up from 42% two weeks ago. Only six percent (6%) think a government change there will be bad for America. Twenty-two percent (22%) say it will have no impact, while another 22% are not sure.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 20-21, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.
The United States began missile attacks on Libya on Saturday followed since by air strikes intended to enforce a no-fly zone over the country to protect rebels seeking to overthrow Gadhafi. The British and French also are participating in the military operations.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of voters say they have been following recent news reports about the political unrest in Libya, with 55% who say they are following Very Closely.
Fifty-five percent (55%) of Republicans still think the United States should leave the Libyan situation alone, unchanged from the earlier survey. But while 66% of Democratic voters agreed two weeks ago, now just 44% feel that way. Similarly, opposition among voters not affiliated with either party has fallen from 67% in early March to 44% now.
But then 63% of Democrats say U.N. approval of the Libyan action has made them more supportive of U.S. involvement, a view shared by just 37% of Republicans and 38% of unaffiliateds.
Seventy-six percent (76%) of voters in the president's party now view the administration's handling of the situation in Libya as good or excellent. Only 15% of Republicans and 31% of unaffiliated voters agree. Democrats are much more optimistic than the others, too, that a change in the government of Libya will be good for America.
The Political Class has become a lot more enthusiastic about a U.S. role in Libya, with 55% now in favor of more American involvement, compared to 75% who opposed such involvement two weeks ago. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Political Class voters say the U.N.'s approval made them more supportive of U.S. involvement in Libya.
A solid plurality (49%) of Mainstream voters continue to feel that the United States should leave the situation in Libya alone. That's down from 66% in the earlier survey. Forty-one percent (41%) of those in the Mainstream say they are more supportive now that the U.N. has approved the mission.
Seventy-four percent (74%) of the Political Class gives the Obama administration good or excellent marks for its response to the situation in Libya. Only 30% of Mainstream voters agree.
Forty-one percent (41%) of all voters say the president is doing a good or excellent job handling national security issues , while 36% give him poor marks. These numbers have held relatively steady for the past several months.
Most Americans now fear that the political unrest roiling Arab nations like Egypt and Libya may get America into another big war .
Generally speaking, however, 76% of voters believe that it's good for America when dictators in other countries are replaced with leaders selected in free and fair elections.