Cuban-American Voters in Miami Support U.S. Embargo

Coral Gables, FL-An exit poll of Cuban-Americans conducted in Miami during the 2008 elections indicates that 56.5 percent of those interviewed support the keeping or tightening of the U.S. embargo while 43.5 percent support easing it.  Regarding travel to the island, 52.5 percent support the U.S. policy while 47.5 percent advocate easing it.  The authors emphasize that "the seismic shift in the political preferences of the Cuban-American community predicted by the national news media was not realized."

 The exit poll was organized by Institute for Cuban & Cuban-American Studies ( ICCAS), University of Miami (UM), and directed by four prestigious specialists: Benjamin G. Bishin , associate professor at University of California, Riverside; Feryal M. Cherif , assistant professor at the University of California, Riverside; Andy S. Gomez of ICCAS ; and Casey Klofstad, assistant professor at UM.  The poll was conducted by 105 UM students at polling stations throughout Dade County, FL.

 Results also show that second and third generation Cuban-Americans are less supportive of U.S. sanctions on Cuba and that female voters tend to be slightly more conservative than men on all issues.

 "This is a most serious and authoritative study of the attitudes of Cuban-Americans," said Jaime Suchlicki, Director of ICCAS.

 The full study will be released on March 20th.  It will also be included as an article in the forthcoming issue of Cuban Affairs, the electronic journal of ICCAS.  For a copy of the report please email ICCAS at iccas@miami.edu or call (305) 284-2822.