Poll numbers change as U.S. action deepens

ASBURY PARK, N.J., March 23 (UPI) -- U.N. approval of airstrikes against Libya has led to increased support for the no-fly zone among American voters, a poll indicates.

Survey data released by Rasmussen Reports said Americans' opinions firmed up when the international military action began.

While 15 percent of likely voters say the U.N. vote reduced their support, 47 percent said they are more supportive of the U.S. engagement against the Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Telephone polling of likely voters March 20-21 found that 34 percent of likely voters favor the United States taking a direct role in the conflict, up from a previous survey two weeks ago when they were at 22 percent in favor. Forty-eight percent of those polled want the United States to stay out of the conflict.

This survey of 1,000 likely voters, has a +/- 3 percentage point margin of sampling error.

Answers to some questions reflect the respondents' party leanings, the poll indicated. Forty-four percent of Democrats think the United States should stay out of Libya, compared to 55 percent of Republicans. Seventy-six percent of Democrats consider President Obama's handling of the situation as good or excellent. Only 15 percent of Republicans agree with that assessment.