Most Americans back banning Russian oil even if domestic gas prices jump: poll
More than half polled say steps taken by Biden so far to punish Putin are not tough enough
US considers banning Russian oil imports
FOX Business' Edward Lawrence shares the latest on sanctioning Russia's economy.
Nearly three-quarters of Americans questioned in a new national poll say they’d support a ban on Russian oil to punish Moscow as it continues its deadly invasion of neighboring Ukraine, even if it triggers another steep rise in already high domestic gas prices.
According to a Quinnipiac University survey released on Monday, 71% backed a Russian oil ban even if it further increased gas prices, with 22% opposed. Eighty-two percent of Democrats, seven in ten independents and two-thirds of Republicans surveyed said they supported a ban.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR PUSHES DOMESTIC GAS PRICES TO NEW HIGH
"Americans are ready to put a chokehold on Russia’s key financial lifeblood, oil, no matter what the consequences are at the pump," Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said.
A growing number of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are calling for a ban of all oil imports from Russia, but President Biden’s administration told Fox News on Monday that "no decision has been made at this time."
WHERE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STANDS ON BANNING RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS
The poll, which was conducted March 4-6, also indicated nearly 80% support for a U.S. military response if Russian leader Vladimir Putin extends his invasion beyond Ukraine and attacks a neighboring NATO country. According to the treaty of the NATO alliance of 30 European and North American nations – including the United States – an attack on one member will be considered an attack against all members.
Ukrainian soldiers take positions in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti / AP Newsroom)
Fifty-six percent of those questioned said steps taken so far by the Biden administration to punish Russia for its assault on Ukraine are not tough enough, with 30% saying they’re about right and 3% saying they’re too tough. Those findings are largely unchanged from a Quinnipiac poll released a week ago.
FOX NEWS LIVE UPDATES ON DEADLY RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE
The poll also indicates that "Americans are divided on Joe Biden's handling of the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with 42% approving, 45% disapproving, and 13% not offering an opinion. This compares to a week ago when 39% approved, and 47% disapproved."
President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (Jim LoScalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The president’s overall approval rating remains underwater, at 38% approval and 51% disapproval, nearly unchanged from 37%-52% in last week’s poll.
But Biden’s approval rating has been inching up in Quinnipiac polling since it hit a low of 33%-53% in an early January survey.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
According to the new poll, six in 10 believe Putin is mentally unstable, up from 49% a week ago.
Quinnipiac questioned 1,374 adults nationwide in their new survey, with an overall sampling error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.