Polls & Research

Americans Want Normal Relations with Cuba

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the United States would modify their country’s ties with Cuba, according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 59 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should lift its embargo and begin normal diplomatic and trade relations with the island, up 15 points since May.

Conversely, 30 per cent of respondents want the embargo to continue.

Fidel Castro became the de facto leader of Cuba in 1959, following the conclusion of the revolution he led to overthrow Fulgencio Batista. In 1962, the U.S. imposed a trade embargo against Cuba.

In May 2002, U.S. president George W. Bush introduced his so-called initiative for a new Cuba, declaring, "The United States has no designs on Cuban sovereignty. It’s not a part of our strategy, or a part of our vision. In fact, the United States has been a strong and consistent supporter of freedom for the Cuban people. And it is important for those who love freedom on that beautiful island to know that our support for them will never waver."

The Bush administration introduced tighter travel and money-transfer restrictions for Cuban Americans. Barack Obama—who took over as U.S. president on Jan. 20, 2009—has said he will loosen such restrictions.

In July 2006, the Cuban government announced a "provisional transfer of duties" to vice-president Raúl Castro, Fidel’s brother, after the president suffered "an acute intestinal crisis, with sustained bleeding" which required immediate medical intervention. Raúl Castro continues to lead Cuba at this point.

On Feb. 5, Fidel Castro referred to comments recently made by Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel saying that Cuban Americans will be allowed to travel to the island and send money back home. Castro criticized the announcement, saying, "The right of Americans to travel to Cuba was not even mentioned. (…) The almost 12 million Cubans who live on the island don’t interest [Obama]. (…) Sooner rather than later, Obama’s politics are losing their virginity."

Polling Data

For decades America has not allowed trade with Cuba or any investment in Cuba’s economy. Do you think it’s time for the United States to end its embargo and move toward normal diplomatic and trade relations, or do you think continued embargo is the best way to treat Cuba?

	Jan. 2009	May 2002
Normalize Relations	59%	44%
Continue Embargo	30%	41%
Unsure	11%	15%

Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 American registered voters, conducted on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.