Zimmerman more favorable than Obama among GOP, poll

Republican voters are two-and-a-half times more likely to have a favorable opinion of George Zimmerman than President Barack Obama, according to a new Fox News poll.

Just 18 percent of Republicans have a favorable opinion of the President, while 79 have an unfavorable opinion of him.

Meanwhile, 45 percent of GOP voters have a favorable opinion of Zimmerman -- the neighborhood watchman recently acquitted of murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin -- compared to 27 percent who have a negative one.

The poll found that Republicans and Democrats followed the trial in equal measure, with 39 percent following very closely and 43 percent following somewhat closely in both parties.

Similar proportions of both parties said race was "one of several important factors" on the night of the altercation -- 31 percent of Republicans and 36 percent of Democrats.

But 51 percent of Republicans said race was "not an important factor" on the night of the shooting, while just 23 percent of Democrats agreed.