84% Of Voters Concerned The U.S. Will Be Drawn Into Military Conflict In The Middle East, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Concern About Prejudice Against Jewish People In U.S. Hits Record High
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An overwhelming majority of voters (84 percent) are either very concerned (43 percent) or somewhat concerned (41 percent) that the United States will be drawn into a military conflict in the Middle East, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of registered voters released today. Sixteen percent are either not so concerned (10 percent) or not concerned at all (6 percent).
The degree of concern varies by party. Fifty-two percent of Republicans say they are very concerned, while 30 percent of Democrats say they are very concerned, and 47 percent of independents say they are very concerned.
"American voters watching the cauldron of the Middle East reaching a furious boiling point are fearful the war, so far confined to Israel and Gaza, will metastasize to include U.S. troops," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO OCTOBER 7 ATTACK
Half of voters (50 percent) approve of the way Israel is responding to the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack, while 35 percent disapprove, and 15 percent did not offer an opinion.
There are wide gaps among party and age groups.
Republicans (75 - 14 percent) and independents (46 - 39 percent) approve, while Democrats (49 - 33 percent) disapprove.
Voters 65 years of age and over (59 - 27 percent), voters 50 - 64 years old (58 - 26 percent), and voters 35 - 49 years old (48 - 38 percent) approve of the way Israel is responding to the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack, while voters 18 - 34 years old (52 - 32 percent) disapprove.
MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL
A slight majority of voters (51 percent) support the United States sending more military aid to Israel for their efforts in the war with Hamas, while 41 percent oppose it.
Republicans (65 - 30 percent) and Democrats (49 - 43 percent) support sending more military aid to Israel. Independents are divided, with 46 percent supporting it and 47 percent opposing it.
There are big differences by age.
Voters 18 - 34 years old (65 - 29 percent) oppose sending more military aid to Israel, while voters 50 - 64 years old (63 - 31 percent) and voters 65 years of age and over (69 - 23 percent) support sending more military aid to Israel. Voters 35 - 49 years old are divided, with 50 percent opposing sending more military aid to Israel and 44 percent supporting sending more military aid.
MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE
A slight majority of voters (53 percent) support the United States sending more military aid to Ukraine for their efforts in the war with Russia, while 42 percent oppose it.
Democrats (77 - 20 percent) and independents (52 - 44 percent) support sending more military aid to Ukraine, while Republicans (63 - 33 percent) oppose it.
There are big differences by age.
Voters 18 - 34 years old (51 - 42 percent), voters 50 - 64 years old (56 - 39 percent), and voters 65 years of age and over (69 - 26 percent) support sending more aid to Ukraine. Voters 35 - 49 years old (59 - 40 percent) oppose sending more aid to Ukraine.
"With winter descending on Eastern Europe and the war with Russia grinding on, the majority of American voters are not wavering in holding off Putin's aggression, though Republican support is showing cracks," added Malloy.
HUMANITARIAN AID TO CIVILIANS IN GAZA
Voters 71 - 24 percent overwhelmingly support the United States providing humanitarian assistance to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
SECURING U.S. - MEXICO BORDER
Voters 73 - 22 percent overwhelmingly support the United States providing more funds to help secure the U.S. border with Mexico.
Republicans (94 - 4 percent), independents (71 - 24 percent), and Democrats (59 - 34 percent) all support providing more funds to help secure the U.S. border with Mexico.
PREJUDICE AGAINST JEWISH AND MUSLIM AMERICANS
Three-quarters of voters (75 percent) think that prejudice against Jewish people in the United States today is either a very serious problem (38 percent) or a somewhat serious problem (37 percent), while 23 percent think it is either a not so serious problem (14 percent) or not a problem at all (9 percent). This is the highest percentage thinking that prejudice against Jewish people in the United States is a serious problem since the Quinnipiac University Poll began asking the question in 2017.
Sixty-eight percent of voters think prejudice against Muslim people in the United States today is either a very serious problem (30 percent) or a somewhat serious problem (38 percent), while 28 percent think it is either a not so serious problem (18 percent) or not a problem at all (10 percent).
"For Jewish and Muslim Americans there is the chilling recognition that in November 2023, hate and bigotry are knocking at the door," added Malloy.
GUN VIOLENCE
Forty-six percent of voters personally worry about being the victim of a mass shooting, while 53 percent do not. This matches a July 2022 record high of voters expressing personal worry about being the victim of a mass shooting since the Quinnipiac University Poll began asking the question in 2017.
Voters 52 - 44 percent support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons. This is a change from February 2023 when voters were split, with 47 percent supporting a ban and 48 percent opposing it, which was an all-time low for support of a ban.
In today's poll, Democrats 89 - 10 percent support a ban on the sale of assault weapons, while Republicans 75 - 21 percent oppose it. Fifty percent of independents oppose a ban, while 45 percent support it.
Fifty-three percent of voters think the United States would be less safe if more people carried guns, while 39 percent think the United States would be safer if more people carried guns, very similar to a June 2022 Quinnipiac University poll.
Nearly 7 in 10 voters (68 percent) do not expect lawmakers in Washington D.C. to take action on reducing gun violence within the next year, while 28 percent do.
1,610 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from October 26th - 30th with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 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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Poll Questions
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Question 21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Israel is responding to the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 50% 75% 33% 46% 56% 44% 51% 62% Disapprove 35 14 49 39 32 38 36 24 DK/NA 15 11 18 15 12 18 13 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 32% 48% 58% 59% 64% 52% 58% 29% 39% Disapprove 52 38 26 27 26 31 29 58 39 DK/NA 16 14 16 14 10 17 14 12 22 -
Question 23. Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws in the United States?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 57% 22% 91% 56% 46% 67% 67% 46% Oppose 40 74 8 41 50 31 30 50 DK/NA 3 4 1 3 4 3 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 59% 52% 55% 65% 41% 65% 54% 80% 59% Oppose 37 46 40 31 54 31 42 18 40 DK/NA 3 2 4 4 5 4 4 2 1 -
Question 24. Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 92% 88% 98% 90% 89% 95% 94% 91% Oppose 7 10 2 10 10 5 6 7 DK/NA 1 2 - - 1 1 - 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 90% 91% 92% 95% 89% 95% 92% 95% 91% Oppose 7 9 7 4 10 4 7 5 9 DK/NA 3 - 1 - 1 1 1 - - -
Question 25. Do you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 52% 21% 89% 45% 37% 65% 63% 42% Oppose 44 75 10 50 60 30 34 53 DK/NA 4 4 2 5 3 4 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 44% 46% 50% 69% 32% 66% 50% 80% 50% Oppose 52 52 46 25 64 30 46 16 48 DK/NA 4 2 3 6 4 4 4 4 2 -
Question 26. Do you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 56% 28% 88% 54% 42% 68% 68% 45% Oppose 41 68 11 44 55 29 29 51 DK/NA 3 4 1 2 3 3 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 49% 52% 55% 68% 41% 66% 54% 81% 51% Oppose 48 47 42 28 57 29 42 19 47 DK/NA 3 1 3 3 2 4 3 - 2 -
Question 27. As you may know, there is a law that gives gun manufacturers broad immunity from being sued by victims of gun violence and their relatives. Do you support or oppose repealing this law?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 47% 23% 72% 44% 38% 54% 54% 38% Oppose 47 70 23 49 56 39 39 55 DK/NA 6 6 5 7 6 7 7 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 51% 47% 44% 49% 38% 50% 44% 66% 46% Oppose 41 49 51 42 58 41 49 29 49 DK/NA 8 4 5 9 5 9 7 5 5 -
Question 28. If more people carried guns, do you think the United States would be safer or less safe?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Safer 39% 73% 7% 41% 51% 29% 31% 51% Less safe 53 17 91 51 41 64 64 40 DK/NA 8 10 2 8 8 7 6 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Safer 36% 47% 44% 26% 57% 31% 43% 17% 39% Less safe 57 45 50 66 36 61 49 79 54 DK/NA 7 8 6 8 7 8 8 4 7 -
Question 29. Do you expect lawmakers in Washington D.C. to take action on reducing gun violence within the next year, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Expect 28% 25% 28% 32% 22% 34% 23% 28% No 68 70 70 64 74 62 75 68 DK/NA 4 5 3 4 4 4 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Expect 37% 27% 25% 24% 20% 32% 26% 32% 33% No 59 68 71 72 76 65 70 67 60 DK/NA 3 5 3 4 4 3 3 1 7 -
Question 30. Is being the victim of a mass shooting something you personally worry about, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Worry 46% 29% 62% 47% 35% 57% 43% 35% No 53 70 38 52 65 43 57 65 DK/NA - 1 - - 1 - - - AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Worry 57% 49% 40% 40% 25% 50% 38% 76% 58% No 43 50 60 59 74 50 62 24 41 DK/NA - - - 1 - - - - - -
Question 32. Do you support or oppose the United States sending more military aid to Israel for their efforts in the war with Hamas?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 51% 65% 49% 46% 53% 50% 58% 59% Oppose 41 30 43 47 41 42 34 35 DK/NA 7 5 8 7 6 9 8 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 29% 44% 63% 69% 59% 59% 59% 40% 38% Oppose 65 50 31 23 36 34 35 53 54 DK/NA 6 6 7 8 6 7 6 8 8 -
Question 33. Do you support or oppose the United States sending more military aid to Ukraine for their efforts in the war with Russia?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 53% 33% 77% 52% 48% 58% 68% 46% Oppose 42 63 20 44 48 36 28 49 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 4 6 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 51% 40% 56% 69% 49% 59% 55% 61% 53% Oppose 42 59 39 26 47 35 41 33 44 DK/NA 6 1 4 6 4 5 4 6 3 -
Question 34. Do you support or oppose the United States providing humanitarian assistance to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 71% 51% 88% 74% 68% 75% 78% 64% Oppose 24 43 8 23 27 20 19 32 DK/NA 5 6 4 4 5 5 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 80% 66% 73% 72% 64% 74% 69% 78% 82% Oppose 16 29 23 23 32 22 27 16 12 DK/NA 4 4 5 5 4 3 4 6 6 -
Question 35. Do you support or oppose the United States providing more funds to help secure the U.S. border with Mexico?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 73% 94% 59% 71% 80% 67% 73% 82% Oppose 22 4 34 24 17 26 22 16 DK/NA 5 2 7 5 3 7 5 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 49% 72% 84% 84% 84% 74% 78% 66% 60% Oppose 42 26 12 10 14 22 18 28 31 DK/NA 8 2 4 7 2 4 3 6 9 -
Question 36. Does President Biden's recent trip to Israel make you think more favorably of President Biden, less favorably of President Biden, or doesn't it have an impact on your view of him?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More favorably 18% 10% 34% 11% 14% 21% 25% 14% Less favorably 21 29 15 20 20 22 14 22 No impact 60 60 48 68 65 56 60 62 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp More favorably 11% 17% 18% 25% 14% 23% 18% 23% 18% Less favorably 29 19 21 15 23 15 19 20 24 No impact 59 63 60 58 62 60 61 55 58 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 - -
Question 37. Given what you know about the situation in the Middle East, how concerned are you that the United States will be drawn into a military conflict in the Middle East; very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 43% 52% 30% 47% 42% 43% 37% 44% Somewhat concerned 41 34 51 41 39 43 45 41 Not so concerned 10 8 13 7 10 9 12 9 Not concerned at all 6 5 5 4 8 3 5 5 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very concerned 38% 41% 46% 46% 40% 42% 41% 43% 42% Somewhat concerned 42 41 39 44 39 45 42 41 45 Not so concerned 14 11 9 6 11 10 10 10 8 Not concerned at all 6 7 5 3 8 2 5 4 5 DK/NA - 1 - 1 1 1 1 2 - -
Question 38. How serious a problem do you think that prejudice against Jewish people is in the United States today; a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not so serious problem, or not a problem at all?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very serious 38% 32% 46% 35% 32% 43% 40% 38% Somewhat serious 37 36 38 38 38 36 43 36 Not so serious 14 18 7 18 18 11 11 16 Not at all 9 10 6 8 11 6 4 8 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very serious 32% 28% 42% 50% 31% 46% 39% 46% 35% Somewhat serious 32 43 38 36 38 38 38 33 39 Not so serious 16 20 12 6 18 10 14 9 17 Not at all 17 7 7 4 10 3 6 10 9 DK/NA 2 2 1 3 2 3 2 3 - -
Question 39. How serious a problem do you think that prejudice against Muslim people is in the United States today; a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not so serious problem, or not a problem at all?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very serious 30% 11% 45% 33% 24% 36% 31% 23% Somewhat serious 38 35 42 39 37 40 41 38 Not so serious 18 32 7 18 22 15 18 24 Not at all 10 17 3 8 16 5 7 12 DK/NA 3 4 3 2 2 4 3 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very serious 44% 25% 25% 31% 19% 33% 26% 49% 41% Somewhat serious 35 38 43 41 37 41 39 36 34 Not so serious 11 25 19 16 27 17 22 7 13 Not at all 8 9 12 8 16 5 10 2 11 DK/NA 2 3 2 4 2 4 3 5 1