Poll: Republicans Favor Path To Citizenship, Unless Obama Supports It

According to a new Washington Post poll, a majority of Republicans favor creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants — as long as President Obama does not.

The poll finds that 60 percent of Republicans favor a path to citizenship when Obama’s name is not associated with the proposal. When the proposal is tied to the president, however, just 39 percent of Republicans support it, representing a sharp 21-point drop.

The pattern repeats itself on ending the Afghanistan war — a proposal that 4 percent fewer Republicans favor when it’s connected to Obama — and on addressing climate change, which 8 percent fewer Republicans favor if Obama is for it as well.

An opposite pattern holds true for Democrats, who are more likely to support proposals to which President Obama’s name is attached. The Washington Post provides this helpful chart illustrating the partisan divide:

The poll helps to explain reports that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus urged President Obama not to unveil his own immigration plan in January. If the president really wants immigration reform to pass, then the best strategy may be to stay far, far away from it.

Photo credit: AP/Isaac Brekken, File