CBS News Poll

For release: Tuesday, February 15, 2011

6:30 p.m. EST

The Events in Egypt and the U.S. Response

February 11-14, 2011

• Americans rate President Obama positively for his handling of the Egyptian crisis,
though many have no opinion.

• They reject the idea of U.S. involvement in Egypt’s affairs now, and prefer the U.S. not
try to assist with democratic reforms there.

• The public expresses cautious optimism about Egypt’s future: most think that country will
eventually complete a transition to democracy, while concern lingers that a new
government could be unfriendly to the United States.

• Looking more broadly, most think it is at least somewhat likely that Egypt’s uprisings
could spread to other nations elsewhere in the region.

The President and U.S. Involvement

President Obama nets a positive approval rating for his handling of the Egyptian crisis – though
more than one-quarter of Americans don’t have an opinion. Those who do have a viewpoint
approve by a more than two-to-one margin.

President Obama’s Handling of Egypt Situation

All Dems Reps Inds
Approve 50% 76% 33% 41%
Disapprove 22 7 36 25
Don’t know 28 17 31 34

Some partisanship is involved here: most Democrats approve of the President, while
Republicans are more mixed. More independents approve than disapprove.

With former President Mubarak out of power, the public now wants the U.S. to stay out of
Egypt’s affairs. Only one-quarter think the U.S. should actively try to help Egypt institute
democratic reforms.

U.S. Involvement in Egypt Now: What Should U.S. Do…?

Help Egypt make democratic reforms 26%
Stay out of Egypt’s affairs 67

On this, Democrats, Republicans and independents all agree. Majorities of all three also believe
the U.S. does not have a general responsibility to promote democracy overseas.
Egypt’s Future

Most Americans think Egypt will likely complete its transition to democracy, but not overnight:
just 7% say it is very likely to become a stable democracy within the next year. More say that
timeline is only somewhat likely.

Will Egypt Become a Stable Democracy Within Next Year?

Very likely 7%
Somewhat likely 45
Not very/not at all likely 41

Almost seven in 10 Americans express at least some concern that a new Egyptian government
could be hostile toward the United States. Republicans are the most likely to be very concerned
about this.

Concerned A New Egyptian Gov’t Will Be Unfriendly to U.S.?

All Dems Reps Inds
Very concerned 27% 22% 38% 25%
Somewhat concerned 42 41 45 42
Not very/not too concerned 28 36 16 29

More than eight in ten Americans agree, however, that what happens in Egypt is important to
the U.S., including 46% who say events there are very important, and another 38% who call
them somewhat important.

Americans mainly think of Egypt as friendly toward the U.S. – 46% do - though fewer, another
25%, go so far as to call it an ally. Only 12% consider it unfriendly or an enemy.

Implications for the Region

Some observers have speculated about the impact Egypt’s revolution could have on other
nations in the Middle East. Americans have mixed feelings: 43% say Egypt’s uprising makes
them more optimistic about the future of the broader Middle East, while 38% say the events of
the last week bring pessimism. One in five doesn’t know.

Future of the Mid-East: Have Events in Egypt Made You Feel…

More optimistic 43%
More pessimistic 38
Don’t know 19

Democrats say they feel more optimistic (57%) than pessimistic (31%). Republicans are
reversed, with 47% pessimistic and 34% optimistic.

Three in four Americans think it is at least somewhat likely that democratic uprisings will spread
from Egypt to other nations.

Will Uprisings for Democracy Spread to Other Nations Now?

Very likely 24%
Somewhat likely 53
Not very/not at all likely 13
But, perhaps reflecting the uncertainty still ahead, there is not much difference in optimism
between those who think the uprisings will spread, and those who think they won’t.

Most Americans are following the developments in Egypt – but not very closely. And almost
one-third aren’t following much at all.

How Closely Are You Following Events in Egypt?

Very closely 27%
Somewhat closely 42
Not very/not too closely 29

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton receives positive ratings from the American public. 59%
approve of the way she is handling her job as Secretary of State; while just 20% disapprove.
Another one in five doesn’t have an opinion.

__________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone on February 11-14, 2011 among 1031 adults nationwide. Phone
numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling
for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for
subgroups is higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on
Public Polls.
CBS NEWS POLL
Egypt
February 11-14, 2011

Q1-Q7 RELEASED SEPARATELY

q8 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in
Egypt?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Approve 50 33 76 41
Disapprove 22 36 7 25
DK/NA 28 31 17 34

Q9 RELEASED SEPARATELY

q10 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Clinton is handling her job as
Secretary of State?

May10a
Approve 59 42 86 50 54
Disapprove 20 34 6 23 19
DK/NA 21 24 8 27 27

Q11-Q20 RELEASED SEPARATELY

q21 Do you think the U.S. has a responsibility to actively promote democracy around the
world, or is that not the responsibility of the U.S.?

Jul09a
Has responsibility 28 22 40 23 31
Does not have responsibility 63 69 53 66 60
Depends (vol.) 4 6 4 4 2
DK/NA 5 3 3 7 7

Q24-Q64 RELEASED SEPARATELY

q65 Do you think Egypt has been an ally of the United States, friendly but not an ally,
unfriendly, or an enemy of the United States?

Ally 25 26 27 21
Friendly but not an ally 46 43 44 49
Unfriendly 9 7 12 8
Enemy 3 3 4 3
Don't know/No answer 17 21 13 19
q66 How closely have you been following news about the recent events in Egypt including
the anti-government protests and President Hosni Mubarek stepping down from office--very
closely, somewhat closely, not very closely, or not at all?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Very closely 27 27 30 26
Somewhat closely 42 45 45 37
Not very closely 19 20 17 20
Not at all closely 10 8 7 15
DK/NA 2 0 1 2

q67 Have the recent events in Egypt made you feel more optimistic or more pessimistic
about the future of the Middle East?

More optimistic 43 34 57 39
More pessimistic 38 47 31 38
DK/NA 19 19 12 23

q68 How important to the interests of the United States is what happens in Egypt -- very
important, somewhat important, or not very important?

Very important 46 52 47 41
Somewhat important 38 33 41 39
Not very important 12 10 11 14
DK/NA 4 5 1 6

q69 How likely is it that recent events in Egypt will lead to democratic uprisings by
citizens in other Middle Eastern countries? Is that very likely, somewhat likely, not
very likely, or not at all likely?

Very likely 24 25 25 21
Somewhat likely 53 53 54 52
Not very likely 9 10 10 9
Not at all likely 4 1 3 7
DK/NA 10 11 8 11

q70 How concerned are you that a new government in Egypt could be unfriendly or hostile
to the United States? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned or
not at all concerned?

Very concerned 27 38 22 25
Somewhat concerned 42 45 41 42
Not very concerned 20 13 26 19
Not at all concerned 8 3 10 10
DK/NA 3 1 1 4
q71 Based on what you've heard or read, how likely do you think it is that Egypt will
become a stable democracy in the next few months? Is that very likely, somewhat likely,
not very likely, or not at all likely?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Very likely 7 6 12 4
Somewhat likely 45 44 49 42
Not very likely 29 33 24 29
Not at all likely 12 11 9 16
Don't know/No answer 7 6 6 9

q72 Should the U.S. try to help Egypt institute democratic reforms, or should the U.S.
stay out of Egypt’s affairs?

Should help 26 26 37 17
Should stay out 67 67 58 74
DK/NA 7 7 5 9

Unweighted Weighted
Total Respondents 1031

Total Republicans 298 289 (28%)

Total Democrats 345 333 (32%)
Total Independents 388 409 (40%)