Percentage Who Say Obama Response Was Correct Exceeds Totals Of Those Who Wanted More Support for Mubarak or Protestors
UTICA, NY - U.S. likely voters are more likely to say the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was positive rather than negative for the U.S., but 68% are either very or somewhat concerned that Islamic fundamentalists will have too much power in the new government.
The Feb. 14-16 Zogby Interactive poll also finds that 45% believe President Barack Obama's response to the situation in Egypt was "what it should have been." However, 21% say Obama should have been more supportive of "our ally" Mubarak and 15% say Obama should have been more supportive of the protestors.
In addition to asking if Mubarak's ouster was positive or negative for the U.S., the poll also asks about its impact on people in the Middle East and in Israel.
Would you say the street demonstrations in Egypt and ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was positive or negative for:
|
|
Positive |
Negative |
Not Sure |
|
U.S. |
49% |
32% |
19% |
|
People in Middle East |
57% |
27% |
16% |
|
Israel |
28% |
49% |
23% |
Differences by Political Party
Republicans (42%) are more likely to say President Obama should have been more supportive of Mubarak. However, 17% say Obama's response was correct, and another 17% say he should have shown more support for the protestors. Three-fourths of Democrats and 41% of independents say Obama's response was correct.
Republicans (88%) are most likely to be concerned about Islamic fundamentalist power in a new Egypt, followed by independents (70%) and Democrats (48%).
A small majority of Republicans (53%) say Mubarak's ouster was negative for the U.S. and a plurality (44%) say it was negative for people in the Middle East. Republicans are also more likely to say this was a negative for Israel (71%).
Democrats are most likely to say Mubarak's ouster was positive for all three places, including a plurality of 46% who see it as positive for Israel. Seventy percent of Democrats feel it was positive for the U.S., and 72% see it as positive for people in the Middle East.
About half (46%) of independents say Mubarak's ouster was positive for the U.S., while 60% say it was positive for the Middle East. A fifth (22%) see it as positive for Israel.
The interactive poll of 1,823 likely voters has a margin of error of +/-2.3%. A sampling of Zogby International's online panel, which is representative of the adult population of the U.S., was invited to participate. Slight weights were added to region, party, age, race, religion, gender, and education to more accurately reflect the population.