Poll Watch: CNN/Opinion Research Survey on Libya

CNN/Opinion Research Survey on Libya

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Libya?

• Approve 50% (45%)
• Disapprove 41% (40%)

Among Democrats

• Approve 73%
• Disapprove 20%

Among Republicans

• Approve 27% (20%)
• Disapprove 63% (64%)

Among Independents

• Approve 44% (48%)
• Disapprove 44% (35%)

Overall, do you trust Barack Obama as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, or not?

• Yes 57%
• No 42%

Among Democrats

• Yes 82%
• No 18%

Among Republicans

• Yes 30%
• No 69%

Among Independents

• Yes 52%
• No 46%

Some people have suggested establishing a "no-fly" zone in Libya which would be an area patrolled by military planes from the U.S. and other countries to prevent Gadhafi from using his air force. No U.S. ground troops would be involved but U.S. airplanes or missiles might be used to shoot down Libyan airplanes or attack ground bases used by the Libyan air force. Would you favor or oppose the U.S. and other countries attempting to establish a "no-fly zone" in Libya?

• Favor 70% (56%)
• Oppose 27% (40%)

Among Democrats

• Favor 64% (54%)
• Oppose 32% (41%)

Among Republicans

• Favor 77% (60%)
• Oppose 20% (36%)

Among Independents

• Favor 70% (55%)
• Oppose 26% (42%)

Among Men

• Favor 76% (62%)
• Oppose 23% (36%)

Among Women

• Favor 64% (50%)
• Oppose 31% (44%)

The military actions to create a "no-fly zone" might not be directly targeted at Gadhafi's troops who are fighting the opposition forces in Libya. Would you favor or oppose the U.S. and other countries using planes and missiles to directly attack Gadhafi's troops in Libya?

• Favor 54%
• Oppose 43%

Among Democrats

• Favor 50%
• Oppose 46%

Among Republicans

• Favor 62%
• Oppose 35%

Among Independents

• Favor 51%
• Oppose 46%

Among Men

• Favor 61%
• Oppose 37%

Among Women

• Favor 46%
• Oppose 49%

And would you favor or oppose the U.S. and other countries using ground troops to directly attack Gadhafi's troops in Libya?

• Favor 28%
• Oppose 70%

Among Democrats

• Favor 28%
• Oppose 70%

Among Republicans

• Favor 27%
• Oppose 72%

Among Independents

• Favor 30%
• Oppose 69%

Among Men

• Favor 30%
• Oppose 70%

Among Women

• Favor 27%
• Oppose 70%

As far as you are concerned, should the removal of Moammar Gadhafi from power in Libya be a very important foreign policy goal of the U.S., a somewhat important goal, not too important, or not an important goal at all?

• Very important 34% (24%)
• Somewhat important 43% (47%)
• Not too important 13% (15%)
• Not important at all 10% (12%)

Among Democrats

• Very important 36% (22%)
• Somewhat important 44% (51%)
• Not too important 11% (17%)
• Not important at all 9% (9%)

Among Republicans

• Very important 37% (31%)
• Somewhat important 43% (40%)
• Not too important 13% (14%)
• Not important at all 6% (11%)

Among Independents

• Very important 30% (22%)
• Somewhat important 41% (49%)
• Not too important 16% (13%)
• Not important at all 12% (15%)

As far as you are concerned, should protecting civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack from Gadhafi's military forces be a very important foreign policy goal of the U.S., a somewhat important goal, not too important, or not an important goal at all?

• Very important 44%
• Somewhat important 39%
• Not too important 10%
• Not important at all 7%

Among Democrats

• Very important 50%
• Somewhat important 36%
• Not too important 10%
• Not important at all 4%

Among Republicans

• Very important 44%
• Somewhat important 41%
• Not too important 10%
• Not important at all 6%

Among Independents

• Very important 38%
• Somewhat important 42%
• Not too important 10%
• Not important at all 10%

Regarding the situation in Libya, how confident are you that the U.S. will be able to accomplish its goals with very few or no American casualties? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?

• Very confident 18%
• Somewhat confident 41%
• Not too confident 24%
• Not confident at all 16%

Among Democrats

• Very confident 20%
• Somewhat confident 44%
• Not too confident 24%
• Not confident at all 10%

Among Republicans

• Very confident 19%
• Somewhat confident 38%
• Not too confident 25%
• Not confident at all 16%

Among Independents

• Very confident 17%
• Somewhat confident 40%
• Not too confident 22%
• Not confident at all 20%

Regarding the situation in Libya, how confident are you that the U.S. effort to protect civilians from Gadhafi's military forces will succeed? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?

• Very confident 22%
• Somewhat confident 48%
• Not too confident 19%
• Not confident at all 9%

Among Democrats

• Very confident 26%
• Somewhat confident 52%
• Not too confident 15%
• Not confident at all 4%

Among Republicans

• Very confident 20%
• Somewhat confident 43%
• Not too confident 25%
• Not confident at all 11%

Among Independents

• Very confident 19%
• Somewhat confident 47%
• Not too confident 19%
• Not confident at all 13%

Regarding the situation in Libya, how confident are you that the U.S. will be able to accomplish its goals WITHOUT sending in U.S. ground troops? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?

• Very confident 18%
• Somewhat confident 37%
• Not too confident 27%
• Not confident at all 15%

Among Democrats

• Very confident 23%
• Somewhat confident 37%
• Not too confident 27%
• Not confident at all 11%

Among Republicans

• Very confident 20%
• Somewhat confident 36%
• Not too confident 28%
• Not confident at all 15%

Among Independents

• Very confident 14%
• Somewhat confident 37%
• Not too confident 27%
• Not confident at all 20%

Among Men

• Very confident 27%
• Somewhat confident 34%
• Not too confident 21%
• Not confident at all 16%

Among Women

• Very confident 11%
• Somewhat confident 40%
• Not too confident 34%
• Not confident at all 15%

Regarding the situation in Libya, how confident are you that Moammar Gadhafi will be removed from power in Libya? Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?

• Very confident 29%
• Somewhat confident 46%
• Not too confident 16%
• Not confident at all 7%

Among Democrats

• Very confident 29%
• Somewhat confident 50%
• Not too confident 14%
• Not confident at all 6%

Among Republicans

• Very confident 29%
• Somewhat confident 45%
• Not too confident 21%
• Not confident at all 5%

Among Independents

• Very confident 29%
• Somewhat confident 44%
• Not too confident 16%
• Not confident at all 9%

Among Men

• Very confident 34%
• Somewhat confident 43%
• Not too confident 16%
• Not confident at all 5%

Among Women

• Very confident 24%
• Somewhat confident 49%
• Not too confident 17%
• Not confident at all 8%

Survey of 1,012 adults was conducted March 18-20, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.  Results from the poll conducted March 11-13, 2011 are in parentheses.