U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
AND UKRAINE
National Public Opinion Poll
March 4, 2014
LOW RATINGS FOR PRESIDENT
OBAMA ON FOREIGN POLICY
Disapproval on the Economy Remains Higher
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
Barack Obama is handling ___________?
52%
48% 50%
52%
58%
54%
52%
41%
39%
37%
38%
40%
App Disap
App Disap
App Disap
App Disap
App Disap
App Disap
Job as
President
Foreign
Policy
Russia
Ukraine
Syria
Economy
2
HIGH DISAPPROVAL FOR PUTIN
Next, please rate your feelings, favorable or unfavorable, toward the
following people…
Barack Obama
President of
the United
States
Benjamin
Netanyahu
Prime Minister of
Israel
Vladimir Putin
President of
Russia
Kim Jong-un
Leader of North
Korea
81%
70%
49%
48%
53%
26%
17%
8%
Fav
Unfav
Total
Fav
Unfav
Total
Fav
Unfav
Total
Fav
Unfav
Total
3
UKRAINE’S IMAGE FALLS IN THE
MIDDLE OF U.S. PUBLIC OPINION
Russia Viewed More Negatively
Please rate your feelings, favorable or unfavorable, toward the following
countries…
74%
71%
72%
72%
76%
66%
63%
60%
55%
53%
53%
48%
40%40%
29%
28%
29%
25%
27%
20%
20%
15%
12%
15%
13%
11%
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Fv Un
Great
Britain
Germany
France
European
Union
Israel
Ukraine
Saudi
Arabia
China
Russia
Afghanistan
Iraq
Syria
North
Korea
4
NARROW ADVANTAGE FOR GOP
ON FOREIGN POLICY
Big Advantage Among Undecided Voters
If the election for U.S.
Congress in your district
was held today…
Thinking about foreign policy, which
political party do you trust more?
62%
53%
47%
38%
39%
DEM
GOP
Total
38%
DEM
GOP
Total
DEM
GOP
Generic UNDs
(23%)
5
PUBLIC VIEWS UKRAINE AS
UNFORTUNATE BUT NOT DIRECT
THREAT TO U.S. INTERESTS
Which of these statements comes closer to your view?
75%
The situation in Ukraine
is a direct strategic threat
to US interests.
The situation in
Ukraine is
unfortunate, but does
not directly threaten
US interests.
25%
Total
6
U.S. SHOULD WORK WITH OR
SUPPORT ALLIES IN EUROPE
In dealing with the situation in Ukraine, the United States should...
Take a leading
role in
Responding,
acting alone if
necessary
Act as a leader
among its
European allies
in forming a
response
Support its
Not formally
European allies, respond, leaving
having them take it as a European
the lead in
matter
responding
45%
26%
19%
10%
Total
7
VOTERS PAYING ATTENTION TO
NEWS FROM UKRAINE
How much have you seen, read, or heard about Ukraine in the
past few days or weeks?
79%
41%
“A lot”
21%
A Lot/Some
Not much/Nothing at all
Total
8
OBAMA SHOULD SEEK
APPROVAL FROM CONGRESS
If it becomes necessary to take military action in Ukraine, President Obama
should...Use Executive Power to act quickly and decisively to achieve the
best interests of the United States …or… Seek approval from the U.S.
Senate and House before acting, out of respect for the Constitution.
89%
79%
21%
Total
78%
22%
70%
30%
11%
GOP
(34%)
IND
(29%)
DEM
(37%)
9