Americans continue to support ban on Russian oil

In interviews conducted March 11-12, new survey data from ABC News and Ipsos finds that a majority of Americans (77%) support banning Russian oil imports even if it means higher gas prices in the U.S. This is in line with other survey research showing more than three-fourths supporting a ban, even as gas prices have climbed more than 50 cents per gallon over the last week. Public sentiment around President Joe Biden’s handling of the situation with Russia and Ukraine has improved over the last two months. However, a large majority of Americans continue to disapprove of the President’s handling of inflation and gas prices.

• More than three-quarters (77%) of Americans support banning Russian oil imports even if it means higher gas prices. Majorities across all walks of society, including Democrats and Republicans, support the ban.
• However, support for more direct U.S. engagement is mixed. When asked about a no-fly zone “if it could mean drawing the U.S. and its allies into direct military conflict with Russia”, the public is split, with a third supporting (31%), a third opposed (34%) and a third saying they don’t know (34%).
• Views of President Biden’s handling of the pandemic (56% approve, up 6 points from Jan) and the situation in Ukraine (48% approve, up 7 points from Jan) have strengthened over the last two months.
• However, most continue to disapprove of the President’s handling of the economic recovery (58% disapprove) and a large majority disapprove of his handling of inflation (70% disapprove) and gas prices (70% disapprove).
• Additionally, a majority of Americans (62%) oppose “don’t say gay” legislation barring teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary schools, such as was recently passed in Florida.
• Sentiment about “don’t say gay” legislation is relatively uniform across American society with majorities across age, education, race or ethnicity, and sexual orientation opposed to these prohibitions. The only group with majority support are self-identified Republicans where 61% support.

About the Study

This ABC News/Ipsos poll was conducted March 11 to March 12, 2022 by Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel^®. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 622 adults age 18 or older, with an oversample among LGBTQ+ respondents.

The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult US population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population.

The study was conducted in both English and Spanish. The LGBTQ+ data were weighted to adjust for Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18-44, 45+), Race/Ethnicity (White non-Hispanic, All other), Education (Some college or less, Bachelor and beyond), Metropolitan status (Metro, Non-Metro), Household income (Under $100,000, $100,000 and over).  Using the LGBTQ+ weight as the starting weight, the data were weighted to adjust for Gender by Age, Race/Ethnicity, Education, Census region, Metropolitan status, Household income, Party Identification, and LGBTQ+ identity. The demographic benchmarks came from the 2021 Current Population Survey (CPS) from the US Census Bureau.  LGBTQ+ identity benchmarks came from the KnowledgePanel Profile data.  Party ID benchmarks came from recent ABC News/Washington Post telephone polls. The weighting categories were as follows:

• Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18–29, 30–44, 45–59, and 60+)
• Race/Hispanic Ethnicity (White Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Other or 2+ Races Non-Hispanic, Hispanic)
• Education (High School graduate or less, Some College, Bachelor and beyond)
• Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
• Metropolitan status (Metro, non-Metro)
• Household Income (Under $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000+)
• Party ID (Democrat, Republican, Independent, Something else)
• LGBTQ+ identity (LGBTQ+, Not LGBTQ+)

The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.28. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on sub-samples. Sampling error is only one potential source of error. There may be other unmeasured non-sampling error in this or any poll. In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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