Poll Watch: Pew Research Survey on President Obama and Mitt Romney's Reactions to Turmoil in the Middle East

Pew Research Poll on Obama and Romney's Reactions to Turmoil in the Middle East

Thinking about the recent attacks on U.S. embassies and consulates in the Middle East and the killing of the U.S. ambassador in Libya:

From what you’ve seen and heard, do you approve or disapprove of how Barack Obama has handled this situation? 

• Approve 45%
• Disapprove 36%

Have Followed Middle East Turmoil Very Closely

• Approve 46%
• Disapprove 43%

Do you approve or disapprove of the comments Mitt Romney has made about this situation? 

• Approve 26%
• Disapprove 48%

Have Followed Middle East Turmoil Very Closely

• Approve 34%
• Disapprove 49%

National survey of 854 adults who have followed news stories about the attacks on American embassies and consulates in the Middle East and the killing of the U.S. ambassador in Libya was conducted September 13-16, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3.9 percentage points.

Inside the numbers: 

While 75% of Democrats approve of Obama’s handling of Middle East turmoil, fewer Republicans (58%) approve of Romney’s comments on the situation.

There are only modest partisan differences in attentiveness to the recent attacks on the embassies and the killing of the U.S. ambassador: 48% of Republicans, 41% of Democrats and 45% of independents have followed this story very closely.