To: SecureAmericaNow.org
From: John McLaughlin
Re: National Survey Results – American Attitudes Towards Obama/Iran Nuclear Negotiations
Date:April 15th,2015
Methodology:This national survey of 1,000 likely 2016 general election voters was conducted from April 8th to 13th, 2015. All interviews were conducted online; survey invitations were distributed randomly within predetermined geographic units. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a nationwide general election. This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.
SurveyResults: A nationwide survey of 2016 likely general election voters conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for Secure America Now finds that a plurality of Americans disapprove of the framework agreed upon between the Obama Administration and Iran on their nuclear program. However, almost 4 in 10 Americans are either not aware or don’t know what to think about the negotiations.
“From what you have seen, read or heard about the Obama’s administration’s negotiations with Iran regarding their nuclear program, do you approve or disapprove of the framework agreed upon between the Obama administration and Iran? If you were not aware of the agreement or don’t know enough about it, just say so.”
Approve 29%
Strongly 9%
Somewhat 19%
Disapprove 35%
Somewhat 13%
Strongly 21%
Not Aware 10%
Don’t Know 27%
Three in every four voters, 73%, believe the Obama administration should be required to publicly release everything that has been agreed upon in writing regarding the deal reached with Iran on their nuclear program. Only 14% believe the Administration should not have to release the agreement in writing publicly.
“Whatever agreement has been reached between the Obama administration and Iran regarding their nuclear program, do you think that the Obama administration should be required to publicly release everything that has been agreed upon in writing?”
Yes 73%
No 14%
Don’t Know 13%
Almost 4 in 5 voters, 78%, believe the goal of these negotiations should be to stop Iran from ever getting nuclear weapons. Only 1 in 10, 10% believe the goal of these negotiations should be to accept Iran into the ranks of nations who have nuclear weapons.
“Since the United States is in negotiations with Iran about their potential development of a nuclear arsenal. In your opinion, should the goal of these negotiations be to stop Iran from ever getting nuclear weapons, or should it be to accept Iran into the ranks of nations who have nuclear weapons?”
Stop Iran 78%
Accept Iran 10%
Don’t Know 12%
More than three-quarters of voters, 77%, believe that any agreement should be subject to Congressional approval. Only 14% believe that any agreement should rely solely upon President Obama’s approval.
“Regarding the United States’ negotiations with Iran which would lead to an agreement as to whether Iran could develop a nuclear weapon, do you think the agreement should rely solely upon President Obama’s approval, or should Congress be required to approve any agreement as well?”
Pres. Obama’s Approval Only 14%
Approval of BOTH President and Congress 77%
Don’t Know 10%
Two-thirds of voters, 64%, believe that once attained, Iran would arm terrorists with nuclear weapons who would use them to attack the United States. Only 11% said they wouldn’t.
“If Iran attains nuclear weapons, do you believe Iran would arm terrorists who would use the nuclear weapons to attack the United States?”
Yes 64%
No 11%
Don’t Know 25%
American voters trust Prime Minister Netanyahu more to take action to ensure that Iran does not get nuclear weapons than they do President Obama, 35% to 41%.
“Which world leader do you trust more to take action to ensure that Iran does not get nuclear weapons?”
President Barack Obama 35%
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 41%
Don’t Know 24%
The plurality of Americans, 40%, don’t know who to believe more when Iran’s Foreign Minister says President Obama is not telling the truth about supposed concessions Iran made in nuclear talks. This number is slightly higher than the number of Americans who believe President Obama, 38%. Still more than 1 in 5 Americans actually believes Foreign Minister Zarif.
“Iran’s Foreign Minister says President Obama is not telling the truth about supposed concessions Iran made in nuclear talks. Do you believe Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif or President Obama?”
President Obama 38%
Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif 22%
Don’t Know 40%
More than 3 in 5 Americans, 62%, believe that International Inspections will not stop Iran from cheating and developing a nuclear weapon, only 22% say they will.
“Do you believe that international inspections will stop Iran from cheating and developing a nuclear weapon?”
Yes 22%
No 62%
Don’t Know 16%
If you knew that each of the following conditions agreed upon between the United States and Iran were true, would you describe the deal as a good deal or a bad deal for the United States?
|
ROTATED QUESTIONS |
Good Deal |
Bad Deal |
DK Ref. |
| The deal leaves Iran’s vast nuclear infrastructure intact so that Iran does not have to close a single nuclear facility. |
12% |
66% |
22% |
| When the agreement lapses Iran will instantly become a threshold nuclear state. |
8% |
70% |
23% |
| The agreement removes all economic sanctions which will allow Iran to receive billions of dollars very quickly. |
14% |
65% |
21% |
| The agreement is similar to the one between the United States and North Korea which North Korea was able to violate and develop nuclear weapons anyway. |
9% |
71% |
20% |
| The Obama administration voluntarily surrendered control of the implementation and verification of any agreement to the United Nations. |
26% |
49% |
25% |
“Now knowing that all the previous statements about the agreement are true, do you approve or disapprove of the agreement?”
Approve 24%
Strongly 7%
Somewhat 17%
Disapprove 62%
Somewhat 23%
Strongly 39%
Don’t Know 14%
The more Americans find out about what the Iranian nuclear deal really includes, the more they are opposed to it. Without knowing anything voters were only slightly disapproving at 35% to 29%, while after they have heard facts regarding the deal, more than 3 in 5 (62%) disapprove while less than 1 in 4 (24%) approve. The leading reasons voters think it’s a bad deal were: that the deal is similar to the deal with North Korea (71%) which failed to keep them from developing nuclear weapons, the deal includes a “sunset clause” that as soon as it lapses Iran would become a threshold nuclear states (70%), the deal leaves Iran’s vast nuclear infrastructure intact so that no facilities actually close (66%) and the deal removes all economic sanctions against Iran (65%).
DemographicBreakdown 4-15- 2015
|
Party |
Total | Age | Total |
Race |
% |
| Republican | 33% | 18-29 | 14% | White | 72% |
| Democrat | 39% | 30-40 | 19% | African American | 12% |
| Independent | 28% | 41-55 | 27% | Hispanic | 12% |
| Ideology |
% |
56-65 | 20% | Asian | 3% |
| Liberal | 27% | Over 65 | 19% | Gender |
% |
| Moderate | 38% | Male | 47% | ||
| Conservative | 35% | Female | 53% |
