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Majority See Tensions Between Russia And Ukraine Leading To War, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Pence vs. Trump On 2020 Election: Majority Of Reps Side With Pence

With all eyes on Russia's military buildup near Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin keeps the world guessing about his intentions, Americans say 55 - 30 percent that the tensions between Russia and Ukraine will lead to war, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today.

If Russia does invade Ukraine, Americans say 57 - 32 percent that the United States should not send troops into Ukraine.

A majority of Americans (54 percent) support President Biden's decision to deploy thousands of troops to Eastern Europe to support U.S. allies in NATO, while 36 percent oppose it. Democrats support Biden's decision 70 - 22 percent, independents support it 56 - 36 percent, while Republicans are divided with 47 percent opposed to it and 43 percent in support of the decision.

By a margin of nearly 2 to 1, Americans say 62 - 34 percent that Russia poses a military threat to the United States.

"A broad majority of Americans, hearing the drums of war surrounding Ukraine, say they expect a conflict and, in similar numbers, accept their country's commitment to protecting its NATO allies," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

VIEWS ON BIDEN

While 35 percent of Americans approve of the way President Biden is handling his job as president, 55 percent disapprove, and 9 percent did not offer an opinion. This compares to a January 12, 2022 Quinnipiac University Poll when 33 percent of Americans approved of Biden's job performance, while 53 percent disapproved, and 13 percent did not offer an opinion.

In today's poll, among registered voters, Biden receives a negative 37 - 56 percent job approval rating with 7 percent not offering an opinion. In January, among registered voters, Biden received a negative 35 - 54 percent job approval rating, and 11 percent did not offer an opinion.

Biden receives negative scores when Americans were asked about his handling of six issues...

  • the Supreme Court: 40 percent approve, while 45 percent disapprove;
  • the response to the coronavirus: 43 percent approve, while 53 percent disapprove;
  • foreign policy: 35 percent approve, while 54 percent disapprove;
  • tensions between Russia and Ukraine: 34 percent approve, while 54 percent disapprove;
  • the economy: 33 percent approve, while 61 percent disapprove;
  • gun violence: 24 percent approve, while 62 percent disapprove.

When it comes to the way Americans feel about Joe Biden:

  • 34 percent like Joe Biden as a person and also like most of his policies;
  • 21 percent like Joe Biden as a person but don't like most of his policies;
  • 4 percent don't like Joe Biden as a person but do like most of his policies;
  • 37 percent don't like Joe Biden as a person and also don't like most of his policies.

Looking at this another way, a majority of Americans (55 percent) say they like Joe Biden as a person, with 34 percent saying they like him as a person and also like most of his policies, and 21 percent saying they like him as a person but don't like most of his policies. About 4 in 10 Americans (41 percent) say they don't like Biden as a person, with 37 percent saying they don't like him as a person and also don't like most of his policies, and 4 percent saying they don't like him as a person but like most of his policies.

When just considering Biden's policies, 58 percent of Americans say they don't like most of his policies, while 38 percent say they do like most of his policies.

"Biden still clearly connects with voters on a personal level. It's his policies that don't click," added Malloy.

Nearly 6 in 10 Americans (58 percent) do not think Joe Biden is keeping the promises he made during the presidential election campaign, while 35 percent think he is. Democrats say 66 - 29 percent that Biden is keeping the promises he made during the presidential election campaign.

PENCE VS. TRUMP ON THE 2020 ELECTION

After former President Donald Trump told a crowd that former Vice President Mike Pence could have overturned the 2020 presidential election, Pence responded by saying that Trump was wrong and that as vice president, he had no right to overturn the election and most Americans agree with Pence. Roughly 7 in 10 Americans (72 percent) say Mike Pence's view is closer in line to their way of thinking, while 17 percent say Donald Trump's view is closer in line to their way of thinking.

Among Republicans, a slight majority (52 percent) say Pence's view is closer in line to their way of thinking, while 36 percent say Trump's view is closer in line to their way of thinking.

"Could Pence have overturned the election as ordered by Trump? Pence said no, and a large majority of voters agree, including 52 percent of Republicans, exhibiting a rare break in the GOP lockstep with Trump," added Malloy.

CONGRESS: APPROVALS & MIDTERMS

Americans give Democrats in Congress a negative 31 - 59 percent job approval rating.

Americans give Republicans in Congress a negative 24 - 62 percent job approval rating.

Americans are split on which party they would want to see win control of the United States House of Representatives as 45 percent say the Republican Party, while 43 percent say the Democratic Party.

They are also split on which party they would want to see win control of the United States Senate as 45 percent say the Republican Party, while 43 percent say the Democratic Party.

MOST URGENT ISSUE

Asked to choose the most urgent issue facing the country today, inflation (27 percent) tops the list, followed by immigration (12 percent) and COVID-19 (10 percent).

There are big differences when considering political parties. Among Republicans, the top issues are inflation (36 percent), immigration (23 percent), and crime (11 percent). Among Democrats, the top issues are climate change (17 percent), elections laws (16 percent), and inflation (13 percent). Among independents, the top issues are inflation (32 percent), immigration (10 percent), COVID-19 and climate change (9 percent each).

ECONOMY & PERSONAL FINANCES

Nearly 6 in 10 Americans (59 percent) say the nation's economy is getting worse, while 15 percent say it's getting better, and 25 percent say it's staying about the same. That's a slightly more negative assessment than about a month ago when 54 percent said the economy was getting worse, while 15 percent said it was getting better, and 30 percent said it was staying about the same.

More than two-thirds of Americans (68 percent) describe their own financial situation positively, saying it is excellent (13 percent) or good (55 percent), while 30 percent describe it negatively, saying it is not so good (22 percent) or poor (8 percent).

1,321 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from February 10th - 14th with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 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.

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Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

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