National (US) Poll * March 13, 2006 * U.S. Voters Say Russia Is Bett - Quinnipiac University

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March 13, 2006 - U.S. Voters Say Russia Is Better Friend Than France, Quinnipiac University National Thermometer Shows; Long-Time Allies England, Canada, Israel Lead List

With the Cold War over, Americans see Russia as a better friend than France, but feel most warmly about England, Canada and Israel, according to a Quinnipiac University national 'Thermometer' survey of almost 1,900 voters' feelings about foreign countries.
Americans feel more kindly toward India than China. And blue state voters, where Democrat John Kerry won in 2004, generally are more kindly disposed toward the rest of the world than voters in the red states carried by President George W. Bush.
The independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll asked voters to rate foreign countries and governing organizations 0 to 100, with the highest numbers going to America's staunchest allies. The mean scores were: (1) England.............76.4 (2) Canada..............70.9 (3) Israel..............61.8 (4) Mexico..............54.9 (5) India...............52.1 (6) United Nations......50.6 (7) Russia..............47.1 (8) France..............45 (9) China...............41.5 (10) Saudi Arabia........38.2 (11) Cuba................27.2 (12) Iraq................27.1 (13) Palestinian gov't...24.6 (14) North Korea.........19.7 (15) Iran................16.7
"Although freedom fries have not become a fast-food staple, Americans clearly still harbor some hard feelings towards France, which trails Russia and even the United Nations on the National Thermometer," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"As for Russia's rating, it is less than neutral, but still pretty good given the decades of Cold War tension," Brown added.
"Despite all the talk about outsourcing, India ranks just after very traditional allies and neighbors, and well ahead of China."
The French-Russian comparison shows the schism in American politics. Self-identified Republicans give Russia a 10-point higher rating than they do France, while self-identified Democrats give France a 6-point higher rating. Independents feel slightly warmer about Russia than France.
The greatest gender differences were in feelings toward Iraq, with men 10 points more favorable toward the war-torn country than are women. And self-identified evangelical Christians feel more warmly toward the Jewish state than do Americans overall.
The biggest split among blue, red and purple state voters is over India, with the states John Kerry carried in 2004 by more than five points giving, the world's most populous democracy a 55.6 rating compared to 49.8 among the states Bush won by that margin. Voters in purple states, where the margin for either candidate was less than 5 percent, give India a 50.8 rating.
From February 21 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,892 registered voters nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and nationwide as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201 I'd like to get your feelings about some countries and governing organizations who have been in the news and what sort of a relationship you feel they have with the United States. I'll read the name of a country or governing organizations and I'd like you to rate how much of a friend or foe they are to the U.S. using the feeling thermometer. You can choose any number between 0 and 100. The higher the number, the warmer or more friendly you feel they are to the U.S. The lower the number, the colder or less friendly they are. If we come to a country or governing organization who you haven't heard enough about to form an opinion, you don't need to rate them. Just tell me and we'll move on to the next one.
21. How friendly or unfriendly do you think China is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 23% 23% 23% 24% 21% 25% 21-40 23 24 21 27 23 26 41-60 32 34 30 32 36 28 61-80 13 13 13 10 13 11 81-100 3 3 3 2 1 2 DK 6 2 9 6 6 8 RF - - - - 1 - <50 48% 50% 47% 53% 47% 54% 50 19 19 19 16 24 17 >50 27 29 25 25 23 21 DK 6 2 9 6 6 8 RF - - - - 1 - Mean 41.5 41.7 41.4 39.6 41.4 38.6 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 25% 22% 23% 26% 19% 25% 21-40 24 20 24 22 24 22 41-60 31 34 32 31 34 31 61-80 13 14 14 12 16 12 81-100 2 3 3 2 3 3 DK 4 8 4 7 3 7 RF - - - - - 1 <50 51% 43% 50% 50% 46% 49% 50 18 21 18 18 21 18 >50 27 27 28 25 29 25 DK 4 8 4 7 3 7 RF - - - - - 1 Mean 40.4 42.7 42.1 40.0 44.2 40.4
22. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Russia is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 13% 11% 15% 12% 9% 14% 21-40 22 23 21 22 18 23 41-60 39 43 35 41 47 37 61-80 18 19 17 19 18 17 81-100 2 2 3 1 3 2 DK 6 3 8 5 5 6 RF - - 1 - - 1 <50 37% 37% 38% 37% 28% 39% 50 22 24 20 23 25 22 >50 35 36 33 35 42 32 DK 6 3 8 5 5 6 RF - - 1 - - 1 Mean 47.1 47.9 46.3 47.6 50.6 46.0 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 12% 15% 12% 15% 9% 15% 21-40 19 23 24 21 25 19 41-60 42 37 39 39 39 39 61-80 21 15 17 17 18 19 81-100 2 2 3 2 3 2 DK 4 8 5 6 6 5 RF - - - - 1 1 <50 33% 39% 39% 38% 36% 37% 50 23 23 22 23 22 22 >50 40 30 34 33 36 35 DK 4 8 5 6 6 5 RF - - - - 1 1 Mean 48.9 45.2 47.5 45.9 48.5 47.0
23. How friendly or unfriendly do you think France is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 21% 20% 21% 24% 24% 23% 21-40 22 25 19 22 25 22 41-60 29 28 29 29 24 27 61-80 18 18 18 15 20 16 81-100 5 5 5 4 3 3 DK 6 4 7 6 4 8 RF - - - - - - <50 44% 47% 42% 48% 51% 47% 50 16 15 17 18 14 16 >50 34 34 33 28 31 30 DK 6 4 7 6 4 8 RF - - - - - - Mean 45.0 44.7 45.4 41.8 43.7 42.7 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 28% 14% 21% 21% 20% 22% 21-40 27 18 23 20 24 22 41-60 24 32 30 30 27 28 61-80 14 23 16 17 20 17 81-100 3 6 5 4 5 5 DK 4 8 4 7 4 5 RF - - - - - 1 <50 57% 33% 45% 42% 46% 46% 50 15 18 16 18 15 16 >50 25 41 34 33 35 33 DK 4 8 4 7 4 5 RF - - - - - 1 Mean 38.8 51.0 45.0 44.9 45.5 44.7
24. How friendly or unfriendly do you think England is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 3% 2% 4% 3% 2% 2% 21-40 3 2 4 2 3 3 41-60 14 13 15 10 12 13 61-80 34 34 33 37 36 37 81-100 42 47 38 45 45 39 DK 4 2 5 3 2 5 RF - - - - - - <50 7% 4% 9% 6% 5% 6% 50 7 5 8 4 8 5 >50 82 88 77 88 85 84 DK 4 2 5 3 2 5 RF - - - - - - Mean 76.4 78.9 74.0 78.5 78.3 77.1 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 2% 5% 3% 4% 3% 3% 21-40 2 3 4 3 1 5 41-60 8 16 17 14 13 14 61-80 34 32 35 34 35 33 81-100 51 40 37 39 45 41 DK 3 3 4 5 2 3 RF - - - - - 1 <50 4% 8% 8% 8% 4% 9% 50 4 8 8 6 7 7 >50 89 80 80 81 87 80 DK 3 3 4 5 2 3 RF - - - - - 1 Mean 81.1 74.7 74.3 75.2 78.4 75.3
25. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Israel is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 11% 10% 12% 9% 7% 8% 21-40 11 9 12 9 11 12 41-60 22 20 25 22 27 20 61-80 25 30 21 27 28 25 81-100 23 29 19 26 19 26 DK 7 3 11 7 8 8 RF - - 1 - 1 - <50 22% 20% 25% 19% 19% 21% 50 12 9 14 12 15 12 >50 58 68 49 62 59 58 DK 7 3 11 7 8 8 RF - - 1 - 1 - Mean 61.8 65.3 58.4 64.4 62.1 64.0 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 6% 15% 10% 11% 10% 12% 21-40 6 15 10 11 10 10 41-60 20 21 26 21 23 24 61-80 30 23 26 26 26 25 81-100 31 20 21 22 27 21 DK 7 6 7 9 3 8 RF - - 1 - 1 - <50 13% 31% 22% 23% 22% 23% 50 10 12 14 12 12 13 >50 70 51 57 56 63 56 DK 7 6 7 9 3 8 RF - - 1 - 1 - Mean 69.6 56.3 61.4 61.8 63.3 60.0
26. How friendly or unfriendly do you think The Palestinian government is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 47% 54% 42% 48% 47% 48% 21-40 23 22 24 22 22 20 41-60 13 13 13 14 16 13 61-80 4 3 4 3 3 3 81-100 1 1 1 1 - 1 DK 11 7 15 11 10 13 RF 1 - 1 1 1 1 <50 72% 78% 68% 72% 71% 70% 50 8 8 8 8 10 7 >50 8 7 9 8 8 9 DK 11 7 15 11 10 13 RF 1 - 1 1 1 1 Mean 24.6 23.1 26.0 24.4 25.5 24.2 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 50% 44% 47% 48% 47% 47% 21-40 21 25 25 24 24 21 41-60 12 13 14 12 12 15 61-80 4 4 4 4 3 4 81-100 2 1 1 1 2 1 DK 11 12 9 11 11 11 RF 1 1 1 1 1 1 <50 71% 71% 74% 73% 74% 70% 50 7 8 8 8 6 10 >50 10 8 8 7 8 9 DK 11 12 9 11 11 11 RF 1 1 1 1 1 1 Mean 24.5 25.5 24.3 23.8 24.6 25.1
27. How friendly or unfriendly do you think India is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 9% 8% 11% 8% 6% 9% 21-40 13 14 13 15 15 17 41-60 32 35 29 30 30 25 61-80 21 26 18 20 26 17 81-100 4 5 4 4 3 3 DK 19 12 26 24 20 28 RF - 1 - - 1 - <50 25% 23% 26% 24% 21% 29% 50 17 20 15 17 15 14 >50 38 44 33 35 44 29 DK 19 12 26 24 20 28 RF - 1 - - 1 - Mean 52.1 54.1 50.0 52.0 55.1 49.2 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 9% 9% 10% 11% 8% 10% 21-40 15 12 13 15 11 14 41-60 30 34 32 31 34 30 61-80 23 21 21 18 27 21 81-100 3 4 6 4 5 4 DK 20 19 18 23 15 20 RF - - 1 - - 1 <50 25% 23% 24% 27% 20% 28% 50 16 19 18 18 18 16 >50 39 39 39 33 47 36 DK 20 19 18 23 15 20 RF - - 1 - - 1 Mean 52.4 52.5 52.6 49.8 55.6 50.8
28. How friendly or unfriendly do you think North Korea is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 60% 73% 48% 62% 61% 54% 21-40 17 15 18 18 16 17 41-60 10 6 14 9 11 12 61-80 3 2 4 2 2 3 81-100 1 1 1 1 - - DK 9 3 14 8 9 14 RF - - 1 - 1 - <50 78% 89% 68% 81% 79% 73% 50 7 3 9 5 9 7 >50 6 4 8 5 3 5 DK 9 3 14 8 9 14 RF - - 1 - 1 - Mean 19.7 15.0 24.4 18.0 18.3 20.4 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 65% 56% 61% 58% 63% 58% 21-40 14 18 18 17 19 15 41-60 8 12 8 10 9 11 61-80 3 3 4 3 2 4 81-100 - 1 2 1 - 1 DK 10 10 7 10 6 10 RF - - 1 - - 1 <50 80% 75% 80% 77% 83% 75% 50 5 7 6 6 6 7 >50 5 7 7 7 4 7 DK 10 10 7 10 6 10 RF - - 1 - - 1 Mean 17.5 20.8 19.8 20.5 18.0 20.5
29. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Cuba is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 46% 49% 43% 51% 42% 47% 21-40 24 25 23 25 24 24 41-60 16 17 16 14 20 16 61-80 5 5 5 3 5 3 81-100 2 2 2 1 1 1 DK 7 3 11 7 7 9 RF - - - - 1 - <50 72% 75% 69% 77% 68% 74% 50 10 9 10 8 13 7 >50 11 12 9 8 11 10 DK 7 3 11 7 7 9 RF - - - - 1 - Mean 27.2 26.7 27.7 24.3 29.0 25.6 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 50% 39% 48% 45% 49% 43% 21-40 24 26 21 26 23 23 41-60 14 19 16 16 17 17 61-80 4 5 5 4 5 6 81-100 2 2 1 2 1 2 DK 6 8 8 8 6 9 RF - - 1 - 1 1 <50 76% 68% 72% 73% 74% 68% 50 8 12 9 9 11 9 >50 9 12 11 10 9 13 DK 6 8 8 8 6 9 RF - - 1 - 1 1 Mean 25.4 30.0 26.3 26.6 26.3 29.0
30. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Mexico is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 11% 9% 13% 12% 9% 12% 21-40 13 12 14 15 12 16 41-60 33 37 30 35 34 33 61-80 27 29 25 25 32 24 81-100 9 10 9 8 8 8 DK 5 2 9 5 5 7 RF - - 1 - 1 - <50 26% 22% 29% 29% 22% 30% 50 19 22 17 19 20 20 >50 49 54 45 46 53 43 DK 5 2 9 5 5 7 RF - - 1 - 1 - Mean 54.9 56.9 53.1 53.0 57.3 52.4 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 11% 10% 12% 13% 10% 11% 21-40 15 11 14 13 13 12 41-60 31 36 34 34 33 33 61-80 29 28 24 26 30 27 81-100 9 8 11 9 9 9 DK 5 6 4 6 3 7 RF - 1 1 - 1 1 <50 27% 23% 28% 28% 24% 25% 50 17 21 19 21 17 19 >50 51 50 48 46 54 49 DK 5 6 4 6 3 7 RF - 1 1 - 1 1 Mean 55.1 55.6 54.7 53.5 56.5 54.9
31. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Saudi Arabia is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 28% 25% 32% 27% 22% 31% 21-40 22 20 23 22 20 22 41-60 27 32 23 29 34 25 61-80 12 14 9 14 13 11 81-100 2 3 2 2 2 2 DK 8 6 10 7 8 9 RF - - 1 - 1 - <50 52% 47% 57% 51% 45% 55% 50 16 18 14 16 21 14 >50 24 29 19 26 25 22 DK 8 6 10 7 8 9 RF - - 1 - 1 - Mean 38.2 41.8 34.8 39.4 41.9 36.6 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 23% 31% 30% 31% 24% 30% 21-40 22 22 22 21 24 21 41-60 31 25 27 28 28 26 61-80 16 10 9 11 13 10 81-100 2 2 3 2 3 1 DK 7 9 8 6 7 10 RF - 1 1 - 1 1 <50 46% 56% 54% 53% 50% 54% 50 18 14 17 16 16 15 >50 30 20 21 24 26 20 DK 7 9 8 6 7 10 RF - 1 1 - 1 1 Mean 42.1 36.3 37.4 37.2 41.1 36.1
32. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Iraq is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 49% 40% 58% 46% 50% 51% 21-40 19 22 17 18 18 15 41-60 16 19 14 18 16 17 61-80 8 12 5 11 9 9 81-100 2 3 2 3 2 3 DK 4 3 4 4 3 5 RF 1 1 1 - 1 1 <50 70% 64% 75% 65% 70% 67% 50 11 12 10 12 11 11 >50 15 21 10 19 14 16 DK 4 3 4 4 3 5 RF 1 1 1 - 1 1 Mean 27.1 32.5 22.1 30.2 27.7 27.4 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 36% 55% 53% 51% 47% 51% 21-40 16 22 19 17 23 18 41-60 22 14 15 17 17 14 61-80 18 3 6 9 8 8 81-100 4 1 2 2 3 2 DK 3 4 5 3 2 6 RF - 1 1 1 1 1 <50 53% 79% 74% 68% 71% 71% 50 15 9 9 12 11 9 >50 28 8 11 16 15 13 DK 3 4 5 3 2 6 RF - 1 1 1 1 1 Mean 37.5 21.8 24.7 27.5 28.2 25.3
33. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Iran is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 67% 71% 63% 67% 63% 66% 21-40 17 17 18 19 21 17 41-60 7 6 9 6 8 7 61-80 2 2 2 1 1 1 81-100 1 1 - - - - DK 6 3 8 7 6 8 RF - - - - 1 - <50 85% 88% 83% 86% 86% 84% 50 4 4 5 4 5 4 >50 4 4 4 3 3 3 DK 6 3 8 7 6 8 RF - - - - 1 - Mean 16.7 15.9 17.5 15.2 18.0 15.3 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 67% 64% 69% 65% 69% 67% 21-40 15 19 17 18 17 17 41-60 9 8 7 9 5 8 61-80 2 2 1 2 1 1 81-100 1 1 1 - 1 - DK 6 6 5 6 6 5 RF - 1 1 - - 1 <50 83% 86% 86% 84% 87% 86% 50 6 4 4 6 3 4 >50 5 4 4 4 4 4 DK 6 6 5 6 6 5 RF - 1 1 - - 1 Mean 17.1 17.8 16.2 17.9 15.9 16.1
34. How friendly or unfriendly do you think Canada is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 5% 4% 6% 5% 4% 5% 21-40 4 4 5 4 3 6 41-60 20 17 22 20 19 19 61-80 38 40 36 39 39 38 81-100 30 34 28 29 32 29 DK 3 2 3 2 1 3 RF - - - - - - <50 10% 9% 12% 11% 7% 12% 50 12 9 13 10 11 11 >50 75 80 71 77 80 74 DK 3 2 3 2 1 3 RF - - - - - - Mean 70.9 73.2 68.8 70.6 72.6 70.1 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 4% 3% 7% 6% 3% 6% 21-40 5 2 5 4 4 5 41-60 20 20 20 20 21 19 61-80 39 37 37 42 37 34 81-100 29 34 29 26 33 33 DK 3 3 2 3 2 2 RF - - - - - 1 <50 10% 6% 13% 11% 8% 12% 50 9 13 11 11 12 13 >50 78 77 74 75 78 72 DK 3 3 2 3 2 2 RF - - - - - 1 Mean 71.1 74.1 68.7 69.9 72.5 70.5
35. How friendly or unfriendly do you think The United Nations is to the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians 0-20 17% 20% 15% 21% 14% 21% 21-40 15 17 13 15 18 15 41-60 32 34 31 31 31 29 61-80 21 20 22 19 24 21 81-100 9 8 11 7 9 6 DK 6 2 9 6 4 9 RF - - 1 - - - <50 33% 38% 29% 39% 32% 37% 50 19 19 19 18 22 15 >50 42 41 42 38 41 39 DK 6 2 9 6 4 9 RF - - 1 - - - Mean 50.6 48.1 52.9 46.7 51.2 47.7 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple 0-20 24% 10% 17% 18% 16% 18% 21-40 18 11 15 15 16 13 41-60 28 36 32 31 31 33 61-80 18 24 21 21 21 21 81-100 7 14 7 8 12 8 DK 5 5 6 7 3 6 RF - - 1 - 1 1 <50 43% 22% 34% 34% 33% 32% 50 16 21 21 18 20 20 >50 36 51 38 40 43 42 DK 5 5 6 7 3 6 RF - - 1 - 1 1 Mean 45.1 57.4 49.4 49.4 51.7 50.8