The
public splits evenly in a new ABCNEWS poll on whether
the United States should establish diplomatic relations
with Cuba, 47 percent to 45 percent; whether to end the
trade embargo, 44 percent to 48 percent; and whether to
end the travel embargo, 49 percent to 45 percent.
Views on diplomatic and trade relations are
essentially unchanged from two years ago. Support for
ending travel restrictions, which had spiked to 58
percent during the Elian Gonzalez affair two years ago,
has subsided to its previous level.
Carter's private visit, at Fidel Castro's invitation,
is the first by a sitting or former president since
Castro took power in 1959 — indeed the first since
Calvin Coolidge's in 1928. (Coolidge's only other trip
abroad was his honeymoon to Montreal.)
Relations With
Cuba: A Divided Public |
|
Support |
Oppose |
Diplomatic Relations |
47 % |
45 |
Trade |
44 |
48 |
Travel |
49 |
45 |
| Carter, a critic of the U.S embargo,
sought to improve relations with Cuba during his term in
office; he said Monday he seeks "to try to identify some
points in common and some areas of cooperation."
The Bush administration, which supports the embargo
against Cuba, has said it hopes Carter's visit focuses
on human rights.
Many Like Travel Prospects
In the new poll, most appealing to some groups is the
prospect of ending travel restrictions between the
United States and Cuba — it's supported by 60 percent of
upper-income Americans, 58 percent of Northeasterners,
56 percent of people who've been to college, 56 percent
of nonwhites and 55 percent of Democrats.
Republicans and lower-income adults (an unusual
pairing) are much more skeptical of normalizing travel,
trade or diplomatic links.
Men are more apt than women to support establishing
relations and ending the embargoes; women are a bit more
likely not to have an opinion.
Methodology
This ABCNEWS survey was conducted by telephone May
8-12 among a random national sample of 1,028 adults. The
results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data
collection and tabulation were done by TNS Intersearch
of Horsham, Pa. |