A recent poll reveals that a significant number of American voters fear that the current conflict in the Middle East may escalate into a full-scale regional war. Nearly half of the electorate expresses that they are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the potential for a wider conflict in the area.

While apprehensions about the conflict’s expansion are prevalent, the survey from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that only about 40% of voters are worried about the United States becoming involved in a Middle Eastern war. This survey was conducted prior to Israel’s attack on military installations in Iran last Friday.

There exists a substantial partisan divide regarding the extent of responsibility attributed to the Israeli government for the war’s escalation. Approximately 60% of Democrats believe the Israeli government holds “a lot” of responsibility, while only around 25% of Republicans share that view.

As the conflict in the Middle East takes center stage in political campaigns, figures like former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are striving to attract Muslim and Jewish voters in crucial states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania. Despite both parties sharing concerns about the war’s potential expansion, they differ significantly in their perceptions of blame regarding the recent intensification and the role the U.S. should play in the future.

Around 60% of voters attribute “a lot” of responsibility for the conflict’s escalation to the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, the Iranian government, and the militant group Hezbollah from Lebanon. About 40% of voters believe the Israeli government has “a lot” of responsibility, whereas only 20% feel that the U.S. government shares “a lot” of responsibility.

There is widespread support among voters for economic sanctions against Iran, which could disrupt its support for proxy groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. A majority, specifically 55%, endorse the imposition of sanctions. However, voters are nearly evenly split on whether the U.S. should supply weapons to Israel’s military, with more individuals opposing financial assistance for Israel’s military than supporting it.

The idea of sending U.S. troops to support Israel’s military is largely unpopular among voters of all political affiliations. Approximately 50% of voters oppose the deployment of U.S. troops for this purpose, with only about 20% in favor and a similar percentage expressing neutral sentiments.

Despite previous disappointments and low expectations for significant progress ahead of the elections, the U.S. continues to advocate for advances on short-term cease-fire proposals.

Half of the voters believe the U.S. is doing “about as much as it can” to facilitate a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah, while 30% think it could be more proactive. Roughly 20% of voters believe that the U.S. should decrease its efforts.

A greater number of Republicans than Democrats prefer less U.S. involvement in cease-fire initiatives. Around 30% of Republicans feel the U.S. should do less, in contrast to about 10% of Democrats. Additionally, approximately 60% of Democrats believe the U.S. is doing what it can, compared to around 40% of Republicans.

Democrats, Republicans, and independents are similarly inclined to suggest that the U.S. could increase its involvement.

This poll, which surveyed 1,072 adults, was conducted between October 11 and 14, 2024, utilizing a sample from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to reflect the broader U.S. population. The margin of error for registered voters is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}