(via Politico).The Conservative Emergency Committee for Israel is coming out with a poll today that backs its view that the U.S. has a deeply pro-Israel electorate, one that's alarmed about Iran's intentions and skeptical of President Obama's outreach to the Muslim world.
They've shared GOP pollster John McLaughlin's survey of 1,000 likely voters, The sample -- 51% of those surveyed have a favorable view of Obama's defense and national security policy. but 42.7% think that Obama's middle east policies are harming Israel'sd secuurity, while 29% say it is improving Israel's security.
The results suggest that President Obama's stance toward the Middle East is not as popular as his foreign policy as a whole, with a plurality disapproving of his handling of Israel and, strikingly, 47% saying his policy of "outreach to the Muslim world" has "decreased" U.S. security, to the 33% who say it's increased our security.
The poll -- using questions that some may find leading -- finds large majorities don't believe that the U.S. can stop Iran's nuclear program with sanctions, and surprising numbers are open to military action: 60% said they'd support a military strike if sanctions don't work.
While a slim plurality said Iran was unlikely to shoot a nuclear weapon at the U.S. (the questions don't worry too much about the actual capabilities), large majorities said they thought it likely that Ian would attack Israel (80%) or provide a nuclear weapon to terrorists (85%).
The poll also makes the case that support for Israel is a salient issue to large numbers of voters. It finds that 53% would be more likely to vote for a candidate "you perceive as pro-Israel," to 24% who would be less likely. While the pro-Israel candidate wins the favor of all of the political groups, Democrats are nearly split on the issue, while Republicans overwhelmingly say they would vote for the pro-Israel option.
They've shared GOP pollster John McLaughlin's survey of 1,000 likely voters, The sample -- 51% of those surveyed have a favorable view of Obama's defense and national security policy. but 42.7% think that Obama's middle east policies are harming Israel'sd secuurity, while 29% say it is improving Israel's security.
The results suggest that President Obama's stance toward the Middle East is not as popular as his foreign policy as a whole, with a plurality disapproving of his handling of Israel and, strikingly, 47% saying his policy of "outreach to the Muslim world" has "decreased" U.S. security, to the 33% who say it's increased our security.
The poll -- using questions that some may find leading -- finds large majorities don't believe that the U.S. can stop Iran's nuclear program with sanctions, and surprising numbers are open to military action: 60% said they'd support a military strike if sanctions don't work.
While a slim plurality said Iran was unlikely to shoot a nuclear weapon at the U.S. (the questions don't worry too much about the actual capabilities), large majorities said they thought it likely that Ian would attack Israel (80%) or provide a nuclear weapon to terrorists (85%).
The poll also makes the case that support for Israel is a salient issue to large numbers of voters. It finds that 53% would be more likely to vote for a candidate "you perceive as pro-Israel," to 24% who would be less likely. While the pro-Israel candidate wins the favor of all of the political groups, Democrats are nearly split on the issue, while Republicans overwhelmingly say they would vote for the pro-Israel option.
DO YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF THE JOB BARACK OBAMA IS DOING REGARDING AMERICA’S DEFENSE AND SECURITY?
APPROVE 50.8
DISAPPROVE 44.9
DO YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF THE JOB BARACK OBAMA IS DOING HANDLING AMERICA’S RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL?
APPROVE 43.2
DISAPPROVE 44.3
DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA’S POLICIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE IMPROVING ISRAEL’S SECURITY OR HARMING IT?
IMPROVING SECURITY 29.6
HARMING IT 42.7
DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
“BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN LESS FRIENDLY TO ISRAEL THAN PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS.”
AGREE 51.6
DISAGREE 35.4
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS COMMITTED TO A POLICY OF OUTREACH TO THE MUSLIM WORLD. KNOWING THIS, DO YOU THINK THIS POLICY HAS INCREASED OR DECREASED THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES?
INCREASED 33.1
DECREASED 46.5
DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?“ISRAEL’S ENEMIES ARE AMERICA’S ENEMIES.”
AGREE 50.9
DISAGREE 38.4
WHEN IT COMES TO THE PEACE PROCESS, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS FOLLOWED A POLICY OF PUBLICLY CRITICIZING AND PRESSURING ISRAEL, BUT NOT THE PALESTINIANS. DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THIS APPROACH?
AGREE 27.0
DISAGREE 54.4
SHOULD JERUSALEM REMAIN AS ISRAEL'S UNDIVIDED CAPITAL IN ANY PEACE AGREEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIANS?
YES 50.9
NO 20.4
SHOULD PALESTINIANS RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AS THE JEWISH STATE?
YES 77.9
NO 6.0
