Most in U.S. favor diplomatic ties to Cuba

PRINCETON, N.J., April 24 (UPI) -- U.S. residents continue to support re-establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba, with 60 percent favoring the idea, a Gallup Poll indicated Friday.

The new findings continue a trend since 1999 of majority support among Americans for renewing ties with Havana, the pollsters said. U.S. President Barack Obama recently relaxed some travel restrictions to the country and gave U.S. telecommunications companies the right to pursue business there.

The poll also indicated that 51 percent favored ending the trade embargo against Cuba, consistent with Gallup findings since 1999 that has seen support for the move hovering between 48 and 51 percent.

Respondents to the poll also strongly favored ending restrictions on travel to Cuba with 64 percent saying they were in favor.

Looking at political affiliations, majorities of Democrats and liberals supported re-establishing diplomatic relations and ending the trade embargo, while Republicans and conservatives tended to be far less supportive, the pollsters said.

Gallup said it interviewed 1,051 adults between April 20-21 for the poll, which carried a 3 percentage-point margin of error.