… Nearly three-quarters of Americans, 74 percent, say it is “unwise” to launch unilateral military action against Syria, the latest Reason-Rupe poll finds. Just 17 percent of Americans say US strikes on Syria without the support of the United Nations and Great Britain would be wise. [cont.] Emily Ekins, Reason.com Read more »
CNN Instant Poll: 6 in 10 speech-watchers back Obama on Syria
A majority of Americans who watched President Barack Obama’s prime time address to the nation said they favor the approach to Syria that the president spelled out in his speech, according to an instant poll. A CNN/ORC International survey of speech-watchers conducted immediately after the conclusion of Obama’s Tuesday address […] Read more »
The likely opinion shift on Syria
Conventional wisdom claims that public opposition is one of President Obama’s prime impediments to obtaining congressional approval of military action against Syria. It shouldn’t be. Not that public opinion is unimportant; it is rather that public attitudes have proven remarkably malleable in such circumstances. Indeed, in every case on record, […] Read more »
Voters Across Age Groups are United in their Opposition to Military Action in Syria
In the August 28-29 national survey for NBC/Wall Street Journal (conducted jointly by Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies and Fred Yang of Hart Research Associates), the numbers on Syria were clearly challenging for the President. Less than two weeks later, the numbers on the three questions that were tested […] Read more »
Syria Yet to Affect How Americans Rate Obama on Key Issues
President Barack Obama’s job approval rating on handling foreign affairs remains low, at 42%, although no lower than it was in June or August of this year. Thirty-one percent of Americans approve of Obama’s handling of the situation in Syria, the first time Gallup has measured the president’s approval rating […] Read more »
Can presidential speeches change minds? The evidence suggest not
The presidency may well be a “bully pulpit,” in Theodore Roosevelt’s original sense, a position that commands attention. But as President Barack Obama prepares to address the nation Tuesday in support of taking military action against Syria, there’s little evidence (at least in recent times) that presidential speeches are very […] Read more »