A new CNN/ORC poll shows about half of Americans would have preferred to see the July 14 nuclear agreement between Iran and major powers approved by the US Congress.
As the Democratic coalition that prevented last week the congressional Republicans from blocking the agreement grew, so did public support for approving the deal.
Overall, 47% in the poll said Congress should approve the deal, up from 41% saying so in August. The poll was in the field when the number of senators in support of the deal reached 41, enough to prevent the senate from advancing legislation to reject the agreement. Still, 49% said they thought the deal ought to be rejected.
The poll also finds 59% disapprove of the way Obama is handling the US relationship with Iran.
Most Americans think Iran will ultimately violate the terms of the agreement, with 37% calling that extremely likely and 23% saying very likely. Just 10% think it is not at all likely that Iran would break the agreement. Republicans (83% likely) and independents (58% likely) are more apt to believe Iran would violate the agreement than are Democrats (44% likely).
If Iran did violate the deal, 64% say the United States should respond with military action, including majorities across party lines (57% of Democrats, 64% of independents and 72% of Republicans). About a third, 34%, say the United States should not take military action if the deal is broken.
The poll was conducted by telephone September 4-8 among a random national sample of 1,012 adults.
