Poll: Most Cuban-Americans favor dropping embargo

A survey showed that most South Floridian Cuban-Americans back dropping the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.

55% of respondents said that they would favor eliminating the blockade according to the poll conducted by Florida International University and the Brookings Institution. The results appear to follow a trend found in similar polls showing waning support for the embargo among people of Cuban background residing in the U.S.

The survey’s results were dismissed by the head of one Cuban exile group who cited the recent reelection of a trio of anti-Castro U.S. congressmen. She has something of a point in that 56% of Cuban-American registered voters preferred to keep the embargo. Nevertheless, the findings also revealed that most of those surveyed would prefer the easing of U.S.-Cuba relations:

Most respondents were Republicans who voted against President-elect Barack Obama, yet 65% or more said the U.S. should drop restrictions on travel and money transfers, re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba and establish dialogue about immigration and other critical issues.

One of Obama’s key challenges in Latin America will be whether or not to change policy in Cuba. The poll’s results may be a good indicator in figuring out how to go about modifying policy.

Image- Reuters
Sources- The Latin Americanist, WFLX, miamiherald.com, BBC News