Poll: Most feel better about U.S. defense

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PRINCETON, N.J., March 26 (UPI) -- Americans are more positive about U.S. national defense, reversing a decline in the public's confidence in military preparedness, a Gallup poll indicated.

Results released Thursday indicated about 54 percent of respondents said the country's defense is just right, up from 41 percent a year ago. An additional 6 percent said the nation's defense was stronger than it should be.

The percentage of those asked who told pollsters that national defense isn't strong enough fell from 47 percent to 37 percent, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

The higher positive attitude was attributed to greater confidence among Democrats, Gallup said. When former President George W. Bush was in office, 37 percent of Democrats thought U.S. defenses were about right. With President Barack Obama in office, that number is 64 percent.

Gallup reported no change in the percentage of Republicans who say national defense is about right.

Results are based on national telephone interviews Feb. 9-12 with 1,022 adults. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.