Americans Hold Negative Views on Cuba

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Americans Hold Negative Views on Cuba
April 26, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few adults in the United States hold
positive feelings towards a Latin American country, according to a poll
by Rasmussen Reports. 59 per cent of respondents have an unfavourable
impression of Cuba.

Fidel Castro has been the de facto leader of Cuba since 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 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."

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.

Last week, senior Chinese Communist Party official Wu Guanzheng met
Fidel Castro in Cuba. Venezuela and China are currently Cuba's largest
economic partners.

Polling Data

Do you have a favourable or unfavourable impression of Cuba?

Very favourable
3%

Somewhat favourable
15%

Somewhat unfavourable
34%

Very unfavourable
25%

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted
on Apr. 16 and Apr. 17, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.

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