New Poll Finds Cuban-American Democrats Support Sanctions Against the Cuban Regime

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cuban-American voters from both political parties strongly support U.S. trade and travel sanctions against the Cuban regime, according to a new poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates.

Overall, the poll found that 72% of Cuban-Americans support the continuation of the current U.S. trade embargo and 69% support the prohibition of tourist travel to the island. Amongst Cuban-American Democrats -- which the poll specifically over-sampled -- a near majority, 49%, support the continuation of the trade embargo and a majority, 58%, support current prohibitions on travel.

"The message to lawmakers and the Administration is clear: the Cuban-American community favors the continuation of U.S. sanctions towards the Cuban regime until a process of democratic reform begins," said Mauricio Claver-Carone, Executive Director of Cuba Democracy Public Advocacy, Corp., which commissioned the poll. "Support for freedom and democracy in Cuba is non-partisan. Whether Republican, Democrat or Independent, the Cuban-American electorate continues to speak with one voice when it comes to Cuba policy," added Claver-Carone.

Other results of the poll include:
-- 80% of Cuban-American voters do not think Raul Castro will make
democratic reforms in Cuba. Among Democrats 65% do not think he will
make reforms.
-- 69% think that U.S. tourism should not be authorized to vacation in
Cuba until the Cuban regime releases all political prisoners, respects
basic human rights and schedules free elections. Among Democrats a
majority (58%) agree that U.S. tourism should not be authorized.
-- 69% of Cuban-American voters believe that the Cuban regime should
remain on the U.S. government's list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Among Democrats 52% believe that the Cuban regime should remain on the
list.


The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates on January 25-26, 2009 among 500 Cuban-American registered voters throughout Florida and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%. The majority of Cuban-American voters reside in South Florida.

This poll is the most recent action in a broader campaign that began with a letter to President Barack Obama published in the Special Inaugural edition of a leading Washington, D.C. publication. The letter encourages President Obama's advocacy on behalf of Cuban political prisoners and highlights the conditions in U.S. law prior to modifications in U.S. policy, such as the legalization of political parties, an independent media and labor unions by the Cuban authorities.