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WASHINGTON – In the context of the trade war between President Donald Trump and China, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they support free trade with foreign countries, according to the latest national poll by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal.
This represents an all-time record in the NBC / WSJ survey on this issue, which represents a 7-point increase over the last time it was asked in 2017.
Among the other findings of the survey, an overwhelming majority is in favor of some gun control measures, although the country remains divided over whether the government should restrict access to firearms. These feelings come as a result of the shooting in El Paso, Texas and in Dayton, Ohio, which killed more than 30 people.
And Trump's political stance remains in a dangerous territory in anticipation of his fight for re-election next year, with only four in ten Americans approving his job and declaring that they will vote for him in 2020.
"This is not an attractive set of numbers for a holder," said Bill McInturff, a Republican pollster, who conducted the survey with the Democratic investigators at Hart Research Associates.
Unprecedented support for free trade
In the poll, 64% of Americans – including majorities of Democrats and Republicans – agree with the statement that free trade is good for the United States because it opens up new markets and that the country can not avoid the fact of a global economy.
Only 27% think that free trade is bad because it hurts the manufacturing sector and other key sectors, and there is no evidence that more trade creates better jobs.
The percentage of those in favor of free trade is up 13 points from 2015 and 7 points from 2017, with Democrats and independents being much more supportive than they are. were four years ago.
And this comes as the United States and China have embarked on a trade war, applauding tariffs on their respective products – although the United States said Tuesday they were postponing some tariffs until December.
"While Trump is playing the game of tariffs, a record number of Americans believe that free trade is good," said Jeff Horwitt, a pollster from Hart Research Associates.
McInturff, the GOP pollster, says this is largely related to the opposition to Trump and his policies.
"If Donald Trump is for and if you are a Democrat, you are going in a very different direction," he said.
Firearms debate after El Paso and Dayton
The survey – conducted after the attacks in El Paso and Dayton – also shows broad support for individual gun control measures:
- 89% say they support the extension of Congressional background checks to all sales and transfers of firearms, including 75% who "firmly" support it;
- 76 percent behind the "red flag" laws that help law enforcement authorities temporarily remove firearms from those deemed to be a danger to themselves or others;
- 75% support a voluntary program whereby the government would buy back firearms that people no longer want;
- and 62% are in favor of banning the sale of selected semi-automatic firearms, called assault weapons.
Yet only 25% of Americans are in favor of banning the sale of handguns.
In addition, the country remains divided over the debate over firearms: 50% of Americans (and 75% of Democrats) are more concerned that the government is not doing enough to regulate access to firearms, compared to 45% of Americans. % (and 73% of Republicans). ) who are more concerned that the government will go too far in restricting the rights of firearms.
"These are always two radically different parts with two radically different points of view," McInturff said. "It does not suggest a substantial change in the attitudes of Americans."
Trump's approval rate is 43%
Regarding President Trump's political stance, 43% of Americans approve his overall performance at work – down 2 points from July, albeit within the poll's margin of error.
Fifty-five percent say they disapprove, which represents an increase of 3 points.
Attitudes to managing Trump's economy are better, with 49% having approved it.
But only 36 percent of Americans say they approve of the president managing the aftermath of the El Paso and Dayton shootings.
"Americans generally gather around their president in times of national turmoil and tragedy," said Horwitt, the Democratic pollster. "Once again in response to the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, we see Americans seeing Donald Trump and his reactions to national tragedies differently."
Asked about Trump's re-election in 2020, 40% of registered voters say they will vote "definitely" or "probably" for Trump, while 52% of registered voters say they vote "definitely" or "probably" for the candidate. Democrat. .
These figures are essentially unchanged from the December 2018 question.
The popularity of Biden decreases
And as for some of the top Democratic presidential candidates of 2020, former Vice President Joe Biden has seen its popularity among all adults descend to earth – a 54% positive and 22% negative in January 2018 (+32) at 34% positive. 38% are negative now (-4).
The opinions of Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Also fell – from 44% positive and 30% negative in 2017 (+14) to 37% positive, 40% negative now (-3).
And Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Is 31% positive and 32% negative (-1).
McInturff said the numbers suggest a general election – like the 2016 elections – featuring two unpopular candidates.
"In a year, the two remaining candidates will have a negative net favorable rating," he predicted.
The NBC / WSJ survey was conducted from August 10 to 14 on 1,000 adults – more than half by mobile phone – and has an overall margin of error of over 3.1 percentage points.
The margin of error for the 834 registered voters surveyed is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
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