Vast Majority Of Americans Say Ban Russian Oil, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Nearly 8 In 10 Support U.S. Military Response If Putin Attacks A NATO Country
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At nearly the end of week two of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as the U.S. and its allies consider ratcheting up sanctions against Russia, Americans say 71 - 22 percent that they would support a ban on Russian oil even if it meant higher gasoline prices in the United States, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today. Democrats (82 - 12 percent), independents (70 - 22 percent), and Republicans (66 - 30 percent) all support banning Russian oil.
As for the steps that the Biden administration has taken so far to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, 56 percent say they are not tough enough, while 30 percent say they are about right, and 3 percent say they are too tough. This is largely unchanged from a Quinnipiac University Poll released a week ago.
"Americans are ready to put a chokehold on Russia's key financial lifeblood, oil, no matter what the consequences are at the pump," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
U.S. MILITARY & NATO COUNTRIES
There is broad support (79 - 14 percent) for a U.S. military response if Russian President Vladimir Putin goes beyond Ukraine and attacks a NATO country.
Americans think 60 - 28 percent that Putin is willing to use nuclear weapons against NATO countries.
As for how long Americans expect the war in Ukraine to last, 44 percent say months, 23 percent say years, 19 percent say weeks, and 14 percent did not offer an opinion.
BIDEN
Americans are divided on Joe Biden's handling of the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with 42 percent approving, 45 percent disapproving, and 13 percent not offering an opinion. This compares to a week ago when 39 percent approved, and 47 percent disapproved.
For his overall job approval, Americans give Biden a negative 38 - 51 percent job approval rating with 11 percent not offering an opinion. This compares to a negative 37 - 52 percent job approval rating a week ago.
In today's poll, registered voters give Biden a negative 40 - 51 percent job approval rating with 9 percent not offering an opinion. This compares to a negative 38 - 52 percent job approval rating a week ago.
Biden's job approval rating has been steadily inching higher since he hit a low in a January 12, 2022 Quinnipiac University poll when Americans gave him a negative 33 - 53 percent job approval rating and registered voters gave him a negative 35 - 54 percent job approval rating.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT & SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES
Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) have a favorable opinion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with 29 percent saying they haven't heard enough about him, and 6 percent having an unfavorable opinion.
Americans support 78 - 15 percent accepting Ukrainian refugees into the United States.
PUTIN & RUSSIA
In the last week, there's been a jump in the number of Americans who think Russian President Vladimir Putin is mentally unstable. In today's poll, 60 percent think he's mentally unstable, while 21 percent think he's mentally stable. A week ago, 49 percent thought Putin was mentally unstable, while 31 percent thought he was mentally stable.
Half of Americans (50 percent) compare Vladimir Putin's actions against Ukraine to Adolph Hitler's actions against Austria and Czechoslovakia before the outbreak of World War II, while 31 percent say that comparison is too strong, and 18 percent say they don't know enough about that history.
Americans think 86 - 11 percent that the Russian people do not have a say in what Vladimir Putin and his government choose to do.
Americans overwhelmingly (74 - 19 percent) do not think the Russian people have a full understanding of what is happening in Ukraine, given what they know about Russia and its people's access to information.
"Russians are largely in the dark about and unable to halt the destruction being wrought by Putin, say Americans who see the Russian leader as mentally unstable. And half of Americans liken Putin to modern history's darkest villain, Adolf Hitler," added Malloy.
WHAT WOULD AMERICANS DO?
As the world witnesses what is happening to Ukraine, Americans were asked what they would do if they were in the same position as Ukrainians are now: stay and fight or leave the country? A majority (55 percent) say they would stay and fight, while 38 percent say they would leave the country. Republicans say 68 - 25 percent and independents say 57 - 36 percent they would stay and fight, while Democrats say 52 - 40 percent they would leave the country.
"When confronted with a terrible hypothetical that would put them in the shoes of the Ukrainians, Americans say they would stand and fight rather than seek safety in another country," added Malloy.
Nearly half of Americans (49 percent) say the attack on Ukraine has contributed to them feeling anxious, while half (50 percent) say it has not.
1,374 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from March 4th - 6th with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 38% 6% 82% 30% 34% 42% 51% 27% Disapprove 51 91 13 51 57 45 43 64 DK/NA 11 3 5 19 9 13 6 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 33% 38% 37% 44% 30% 40% 35% 57% 37% Disapprove 46 50 58 52 64 53 58 35 45 DK/NA 22 12 5 4 6 8 7 7 18 Mltry Hshld Approve 32% Disapprove 55 DK/NA 13 -
Question 1a. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove q1) Do you strongly or somewhat approve/disapprove?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve strongly 21% 2% 47% 14% 16% 25% 29% 13% Approve smwht 16 4 32 15 17 16 21 14 Disapprove smwht 8 5 8 10 9 7 6 7 Disapprove strongly 43 86 5 41 48 38 37 57 DK/NA 13 3 8 19 11 15 6 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve strongly 10% 17% 23% 34% 14% 22% 18% 37% 20% Approve smwht 22 21 13 10 15 17 16 19 14 Disapprove smwht 13 7 5 5 8 5 6 14 12 Disapprove strongly 32 43 52 46 56 47 51 21 33 DK/NA 22 13 7 6 7 9 8 8 21 Mltry Hshld Approve strongly 17% Approve smwht 14 Disapprove smwht 6 Disapprove strongly 49 DK/NA 14 -
Question 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 42% 14% 77% 37% 38% 45% 58% 31% Disapprove 45 76 13 47 50 40 38 56 DK/NA 13 10 10 17 12 15 4 13 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 37% 44% 41% 45% 36% 43% 40% 62% 40% Disapprove 36 44 52 49 54 47 50 30 43 DK/NA 26 11 7 7 10 10 10 9 17 Mltry Hshld Approve 31% Disapprove 53 DK/NA 16 -
Question 3. Do you think Russian President Vladimir Putin is mentally stable or mentally unstable?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Mentally stable 21% 22% 12% 28% 31% 12% 22% 15% Mentally unstable 60 55 76 54 51 68 60 66 DK/NA 19 23 12 18 18 20 18 18 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Mentally stable 26% 23% 19% 12% 27% 10% 17% 26% 24% Mentally unstable 57 56 64 68 55 72 64 69 51 DK/NA 16 21 17 20 18 18 18 6 24 Mltry Hshld Mentally stable 18% Mentally unstable 58 DK/NA 24 -
Question 4. Do you think the steps that the Biden administration has taken to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine have been too tough on Russia, not tough enough on Russia, or have they been about right?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Too tough 3% 4% 2% 3% 6% 1% 1% 3% Not tough enough 56 74 46 54 57 54 58 63 About right 30 14 46 32 29 31 36 24 DK/NA 11 9 6 12 8 14 5 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Too tough 5% 3% 3% - 4% 1% 2% 2% 4% Not tough enough 42 55 65 63 63 61 62 45 45 About right 37 31 26 27 28 28 28 43 34 DK/NA 15 11 7 10 6 11 8 10 16 Mltry Hshld Too tough 4% Not tough enough 56 About right 28 DK/NA 12 -
Question 5. Is your opinion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 64% 61% 77% 57% 63% 64% 86% 64% Unfavorable 6 6 2 7 7 5 4 6 Hvn't hrd enough 29 31 21 34 28 30 9 29 REFUSED 1 2 - 2 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 57% 60% 68% 74% 71% 71% 71% 51% 52% Unfavorable 7 8 4 3 6 4 5 5 7 Hvn't hrd enough 35 30 26 22 22 23 23 44 38 REFUSED 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 - 2 Mltry Hshld Favorable 65% Unfavorable 7 Hvn't hrd enough 26 REFUSED 2 -
Question 6. Do you expect the war in Ukraine to last weeks, months, or years?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Weeks 19% 18% 18% 19% 18% 20% 21% 18% Months 44 45 49 43 47 41 51 40 Years 23 22 22 24 23 22 21 25 DK/NA 14 15 12 14 12 17 8 16 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Weeks 15% 20% 18% 26% 17% 20% 19% 18% 18% Months 50 42 44 43 46 41 43 55 43 Years 22 24 26 15 26 23 24 12 26 DK/NA 12 14 12 16 11 16 14 15 13 Mltry Hshld Weeks 16% Months 46 Years 28 DK/NA 10 -
Question 7. Do you support or oppose accepting Ukrainian refugees into the U.S.?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 78% 66% 91% 78% 76% 80% 91% 77% Oppose 15 26 6 15 19 12 7 18 DK/NA 7 9 4 7 5 9 2 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 81% 77% 79% 78% 81% 82% 82% 77% 72% Oppose 12 17 17 16 15 14 14 19 19 DK/NA 7 6 4 7 4 5 4 4 9 Mltry Hshld Support 77% Oppose 16 DK/NA 7 -
Question 8. If you were in the same position as Ukrainians are now, do you think that you would stay and fight or leave the country?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Stay and fight 55% 68% 40% 57% 70% 40% 55% 58% Leave the country 38 25 52 36 24 52 35 35 DK/NA 7 6 8 7 6 8 10 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Stay and fight 45% 57% 66% 52% 75% 43% 57% 38% 61% Leave the country 48 37 28 37 19 47 35 59 33 DK/NA 6 6 6 12 6 10 8 2 5 Mltry Hshld Stay and fight 68% Leave the country 27 DK/NA 4 -
Question 9. Has the attack on Ukraine contributed to you feeling anxious, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Contributed 49% 41% 61% 47% 36% 61% 59% 52% No 50 57 38 51 62 38 40 46 DK/NA 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Contributed 48% 47% 48% 55% 40% 65% 54% 34% 46% No 50 53 51 41 58 33 44 65 51 DK/NA 1 - 1 4 2 2 2 1 3 Mltry Hshld Yes/Contributed 42% No 57 DK/NA 2 -
Question 10. Would you support a ban on Russian oil, if it meant higher gasoline prices in the United States?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Would support 71% 66% 82% 70% 69% 73% 90% 74% No 22 30 12 22 25 19 5 20 DK/NA 7 5 6 8 6 8 5 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Would support 54% 69% 86% 82% 77% 81% 79% 59% 61% No 38 23 10 10 16 14 15 37 32 DK/NA 8 7 4 8 6 6 6 4 8 Mltry Hshld Yes/Would support 70% No 21 DK/NA 8 -
Question 11. How concerned are you that a Russian cyberattack will affect you personally; very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 23% 23% 27% 22% 18% 28% 21% 20% Somewhat concerned 40 38 44 39 35 45 45 42 Not so concerned 20 18 18 22 25 15 22 20 Not concerned at all 16 20 9 17 21 11 11 17 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 - AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very concerned 14% 23% 30% 25% 17% 24% 21% 31% 32% Somewhat concerned 39 38 41 45 35 48 42 36 32 Not so concerned 27 18 14 17 25 17 21 17 16 Not concerned at all 17 19 13 12 21 10 15 15 18 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Mltry Hshld Very concerned 20% Somewhat concerned 36 Not so concerned 21 Not concerned at all 23 DK/NA 1 -
Question 12. As you may know, the United States is a member of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Its collective defense treaty states that an attack on one NATO country is an attack on all NATO countries. If Russian President Vladimir Putin goes beyond Ukraine and attacks a NATO country, would you support or oppose a military response from the United States?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 79% 82% 88% 77% 81% 78% 89% 82% Oppose 14 14 8 16 15 13 6 11 DK/NA 7 4 4 6 4 9 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 72% 79% 87% 83% 86% 84% 85% 83% 70% Oppose 21 16 8 9 11 8 9 14 23 DK/NA 7 5 5 8 4 8 6 3 7 Mltry Hshld Support 82% Oppose 10 DK/NA 8 -
Question 13. Do you think Vladimir Putin is willing to use nuclear weapons against NATO countries, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Willing to use 60% 65% 67% 54% 48% 72% 56% 65% No 28 25 24 36 41 16 32 25 DK/NA 11 10 9 10 10 12 13 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Willing to use 58% 60% 61% 69% 48% 73% 62% 65% 57% No 34 27 28 20 42 16 27 28 30 DK/NA 7 14 11 11 10 11 11 7 13 Mltry Hshld Yes/Willing to use 55% No 35 DK/NA 10 -
Question 14. Would you compare Vladimir Putin's actions against Ukraine to Adolph Hitler's actions against Austria and Czechoslovakia before the outbreak of World War II or do you think that is too strong a comparison or do you not know enough about that history?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Compare 50% 49% 60% 46% 44% 55% 61% 55% No/Too strong 31 32 22 36 38 24 26 26 Don't know enough 18 18 16 16 16 20 12 17 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Compare 35% 42% 60% 65% 49% 63% 57% 40% 41% No/Too strong 40 41 27 14 35 19 26 41 31 Don't know enough 25 16 12 18 14 17 15 19 27 DK/NA - 1 2 2 2 1 1 - 1 Mltry Hshld Yes/Compare 50% No/Too strong 34 Don't know enough 14 DK/NA 2 -
Question 15. Do you think the Russian people have a say in what Vladimir Putin and his government choose to do, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Have a say 11% 12% 8% 14% 12% 10% 6% 9% No 86 83 91 84 85 86 92 88 DK/NA 3 4 1 2 3 4 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Have a say 9% 9% 14% 9% 8% 8% 8% 13% 15% No 87 88 85 87 89 90 90 87 78 DK/NA 4 3 1 4 3 2 2 - 7 Mltry Hshld Yes/Have a say 11% No 85 DK/NA 4 -
Question 16. Given what you know about Russia and its people's access to information, do you think the Russian people have a full understanding of what is happening in Ukraine, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Understanding 19% 21% 16% 22% 22% 17% 11% 19% No 74 72 77 72 73 75 85 75 DK/NA 7 7 7 6 6 8 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Understanding 24% 19% 18% 14% 18% 16% 17% 32% 20% No 66 72 80 80 77 79 78 64 68 DK/NA 10 9 2 6 5 5 5 4 12 Mltry Hshld Yes/Understanding 20% No 73 DK/NA 6