Poll: Swing State Voters Agree Iran Negotiations Needed

Voters in the critical presidential swing states of Colorado, Iowa, and Virginia overwhelmingly support a negotiated settlement between the United States and Iran that ends up lifting some sanctions in exchange for restrictions on the Middle Eastern country's nuclear capabilities, a Quinnipiac University poll reveals.

"Two-thirds like the idea of an agreement that would restrict Iran's ability to continue its nuclear weapons program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions," Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll, said in a press release on Monday.

"By almost 5-1, voters prefer a diplomatic solution. Those numbers indicate support for President Barack Obama's efforts to sell the deal."

The support for a negotiated settlement in which the United States and its allies would lift some sanctions was:

67-26 percent in Colorado;
64-25 percent in Iowa;
64-26 percent in Virginia.

President Barack Obama's job approval rating remains deeply negative in each state:

42-55 percent in Colorado, compared to 43-52 percent February 19;
40-56 percent in Iowa, compared to 43-52 percent in February;
45-53 percent in Virginia, compared to 44-53 percent.

The mixed messages, Brown said, show that five in eight voters in the swing states think the "Iranians are incapable of negotiating in good faith," as well as indicate that President Barack Obama's "low job approval ratings raise the question of his ability to convince the public and Congress to see things his way."

Voters in each state also said, by double-digit margins, that a letter sent to Iranian leaders by 47 Republican senators earlier this year was inappropriate.

In Colorado, 91 percent of the voters said Iran's nuclear program is either a major or minor threat to the United States, and by 75-16 percent preferred a negotiated deal rather than military intervention. However, they agreed by 59-29 percent that they do not trust Iran to negotiate in good faith.

They also said, by 55-39 percent, that the letter was inappropriate, and by 38-5 percent that it could hurt White House efforts toward a settlement. However, 49 percent said they don't think the letter will make a difference.

In Iowa, 91 percent said Iran's program will threaten the well-being of the United States, and prefer negotiations by 74-16 percent. Like Colorado, they don't trust Iran, by 61-26 percent.

They agreed by 52-39 percent that the letter was inappropriate, but half didn't think the letter would make a difference.

Ninety-two percent of Virginia voters think the nuclear program is dangerous to the U.S. and favor negotiations by 76-16 percent, while thinking Iran can't negotiate in good faith by 61 percent to 28 percent.

They agreed by 57-28 percent that the letter was not appropriate, but half did not think it would make a difference.

The poll surveyed 894 Colorado voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points; 948 Iowa voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 points; and 961 Virginia voters with a margin of 3.2 points.