GOP stresses U.S. be No. 1 militarily

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PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Republicans put more emphasis on the United States being No. 1 in the world militarily than Democrats or independents, a new Gallup poll indicated.

Eighty percent of Republicans said it was important that America be the No. 1 military force in the world, while 62 percent of independents and 48 percent Democrats said the same, results of Gallup's World Affairs survey released Wednesday indicated.

The results were released as the country faces automatic cuts of $85 billion in domestic and defense spending -- known as sequester -- that are to go into effect Friday.

Independents' views reflect respondents' views overall, Gallup said.

Results indicate Americans are more likely to say they believe it is important that the country be militarily at the top than to say the United States is the No. 1 military power in the world, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

Half of Americans said they believe the U.S. is No. 1 militarily, dipping below the 51 percent low point in 1999, Gallup said.

Results are based on nationwide phone interviews with 1,015 adults conducted Feb. 7-10. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.