Poll Watch: Washington Post-ABC News Survey on Libya No-Fly Zone

Washington Post-ABC News Survey on Libya No-Fly Zone

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the situation in Libya? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?

• Strongly approve 24%
• Somewhat approve 22%
• Somewhat disapprove 14%
• Strongly disapprove 20%

In Libya, there's fighting between anti-government protesters and forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi...

(HALF SAMPLE) Would you support or oppose using U.S. military aircraft to create a no-fly zone in Libya in order to keep Gaddafi's air force from attacking rebel-held areas?

• Support 49%
• Oppose 45%

(HALF SAMPLE) You may have heard about the idea that U.S. military aircraft could participate in creating a no-fly zone over Libya in order to keep Gaddafi's air force from attacking rebel-held areas. Is this something you would support or oppose?

• Support 56%
• Oppose 37%

(IF SUPPORT U.S. MILITARY CREATING NO-FLY ZONE) Creating a no-fly zone first requires bombing attacks on anti-aircraft positions, and then requires continuous air patrols. Given those requirements, would you support or oppose using U.S. military aircraft to create a no-fly zone in Libya?

• Support 72%
• Oppose 25%

Survey of 1,005 adults was conducted March 10-13, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

Republican support is an identical 61 percent whether the question is U.S. participation in a no-fly zone, or U.S. creation of one. While majorities of Democrats (57 percent) and independents (53 percent) favor American participation, in both groups' support slumps when other countries' backing is less clear.