A majority of Americans support establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba and ending the trade embargo and travel restrictions to the country, a new ABC-Washington Post poll said.
Sixty-four percent support the United States establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba, 68 percent support the United States ending the trade embargo with Cuba, and 74 percent support the U.S. ending its travel restrictions to Cuba.
In 2009, 66 percent said the U.S. should establish diplomatic ties with Cuba, 57 percent supported ending the embargo, and 55 percent supported ending travel restrictions.
The survey, taken Dec. 17-21, did not ask specifically about President Obama’s recent announcement to open up diplomatic ties with the country. The poll of 1,011 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
The Post did point to a separate survey of Americans with Cuban heritage from Bendixen & Amandi International that found 44 percent agreed with “Obama’s announcement to begin normalizing relations with Cuba” and 48 percent disagreed.
Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican and the son of Cuban immigrants, has been one of the most prominent critics of Mr. Obama’s announcement and has clashed over the new policy with Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a fellow potential contender for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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