|
 The poll released on Wednesday by Beyond the Beltway, a joint
public polling initiative by Washington-based research consultants
Benenson Strategy Group and SKDKnickerbocker, found that most
American voters support expanding trade, travel, and diplomatic
relations with Havana.
Some 64 percent of those surveyed supported ending the embargo,
including 74 percent of Democrats, 51 percent of Republicans, and 64
percent of independents.
A larger majority of voters - 72 percent - supported expanding
travel and trade by Americans and having diplomatic relations with
Cuba. Of those, 64 percent of Republicans under the age of 50 agreed
that the recent policy changes "are in the best interests of the
U.S. and Cuban people."
The poll of 1,032 registered voters was hailed by supporters of
Obama's historic announcement in December to renew diplomatic
relations with Cuba, as well as new regulations on travel and
commerce with the island.
 "This national poll makes it clear that the trend lines we’ve seen
in recent years continue to rise toward strong bipartisan support
for our new course on Cuba," said Ricardo Herrero, director of
CubaNow, a Miami-based advocacy group that backs the White House
opening with Cuba.
Benenson is a Democrat-leaning polling group, which has also done
work for New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, a Cuban-American
Democrat and vocal defender of the embargo.
While critics of the Cuba opening in Congress have so far not been
able to block the White House moves to normalize relations, the
embargo is a tougher issue for the Obama administration as it can
only be removed by an act of Congress. Both the House of
Representatives and the Senate are controlled by Republicans.
[to top of second column] |
The poll appears to confirm other surveys conducted soon after the
Dec. 17 announcement to normalize relations with Cuba, which showed
strong support for ending the embargo and re-establishing ties with
the island, even among Cuban exiles in Miami.
Benenson describes itself as a strategic research consultancy that
advises major companies and heads of state, including the president.
SKDKnickerbocker provides communications advice to companies as well
as political candidates.
The poll was conducted Feb. 26-27 among registered voters selected
to match national demographics of the voting population.
(Reporting By David Adams in Miami; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
