Raleigh, N.C. – President Obama’s decision to intervene in Libya has not proven terribly popular so far. 40% of Americans say they oppose the move, and a third are not sure. Only 27% support the intervention. The president’s action has caused a small amount of consternation in his party. Democrats with an opinion narrowly support the military action, 31-28, but 41% are not sure. 14% of Democrats say it makes them less likely to support Obama for re-election, versus 4% of Republicans and 13% of independents who say it makes them more likely.
PPP asked voters whether they consider themselves more, less, or equally as informed as other voters, and if they know in which of four named regions Libya is located. 58% of all voters know that Libya is in North Africa, but 27% believe it to be in the Middle East. Predictably, 62% of voters believe they are more informed than others, 31% say they are just as informed, and only 5% say they know less.
Those who know Libya’s geography are more likely to support the president’s action than anyone else, but still oppose it, 29-37. Voters who think the country is in the Middle East oppose, 26-44.
Republicans (63%) are a little more likely than Democrats (56%) to think themselves more informed than the rabble but 55% of Obama’s party knows Libya’s correct location, while only 51% of Republicans do. Independents are most knowledgeable. 70% of them think they are more informed than everyone else, but in this one instance, at least, they are right in doing so. 69% of them can place Libya on a map.
“Libya- even if a significant chunk of Americans don’t actually know where it is- is contributing to the President’s popularity issues right now,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “There just isn’t a lot of public support for what we’re doing over there right now.”
PPP surveyed 531 American voters from April 7th to 10th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.3%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Where do you think the country Libya is–in
South America, the Middle East, South Asia, or
North Africa?
South America ………………………………………… 2%
Middle East …………………………………………….. 27%
South Asia ……………………………………………… 4%
North Africa…………………………………………….. 58%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q2 Do you support or oppose the American
military intervention in Libya, or are you not
sure?
Support ………………………………………………….. 27%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q3 Does President Obama’s decision to intervene
in Libya make you more or less likely to
support his re-election in 2012,or does it not
make a difference either way?
More likely to support his re-election…………… 17%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 31%
Doesn’t make a difference ………………………… 52%
Q4 Would you say you are more informed, less
informed, or about equally as informed as other
voters?
More informed…………………………………………. 62%
Less informed …………………………………………. 5%
About equally as informed ………………………… 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q5 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 8%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 34%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 27%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 14%
Q6 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q7 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 38%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 28%
Q8 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 9%
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 11%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q9 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
