The United States is no longer a war-weary nation, according to a Fox News poll that explains why Republican voters are prioritizing foreign policy at this early stage of their party’s 2016 primary.
The survey of 1,011 registered voters, conducted Sunday through Tuesday, revealed that Americans feel less safe than before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and view President Obama as a weak negotiator with foreign leaders.
Voters think Obama has not been aggressive enough in trying to limit Iran’s nuclear weapons program, and favor taking military action to stop it if there is no other way.
Americans overwhelmingly approve of the U.S. air war against the Islamic State, and in fact want airstrikes increased, with a narrow majority saying they back “sending a limited number of U.S. ground troops to Iraq and Syria” to fight the terrorist entity. A narrow majority opposes sending “significant” ground forces; voters are split on sending weapons to U.S. allies in the region that are fighting the Islamic State.
The poll, conducted jointly by two firms, one Democratic and one Republican, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. The sample included 39 percent self-described Democrats, 39 percent self-described Republicans and 17 percent who described themselves a independents or “other.”
Key findings include:
Do you think Barack Obama is a strong negotiator with foreign leaders or a weaknegotiator? Strong – 34 percent; Weak – 59 percent; Don’t Know – 7 percent.
Do you think Barack Obama is a strong negotiator with foreign leaders or a weaknegotiator? Strong – 34 percent; Weak – 59 percent; Don’t Know – 7 percent.
In the fight against Islamic extremists, do you favor or oppose …Sending a limited number of U.S.ground troops to Iraq and Syria? Favor – 52 percent; Oppose – 43 percent; Don’t Know – 5 percent.
In the fight against Islamic extremists, do you favor or oppose … Sending a significant number of U.S.ground troops to Iraq and Syria? Favor – 42 percent; Oppose – 51 percent; Don’t Know – 7 percent.
