UPI Poll: U.S. offshore drilling support

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- More than 40 percent of those asked told a UPI-Zogby International poll they "strongly support" drilling for oil off the U.S. coast.

A total of 6,882 U.S. residents took part in a Zogby interactive poll looking at energy issues and policies. The poll was conducted Jan. 16-18 and has a margin of error of 1.2 percentage points.

Asked their level of support for oil drilling off coastlines of the United States, 42.4 percent said they would "strongly support" such a program while another 18.6 percent gave the idea "somewhat support." A total of 16.7 percent would "somewhat oppose" the idea and 18.5 percent listed "strongly oppose" as their option.

There was a slight plurality in favor of drilling in the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Some 48.5 percent of participants said such exploration should be allowed and 45.3 said it should not.

As to which location would be preferable for oil drilling, 48.3 percent of respondents selected the Gulf of Mexico and 24.3 percent said ANWR. Another 9.2 percent offered "other" as a location and 18.2 said they weren't sure.