Poll shows most voters think National Guard should be called into protect Jewish college students

New polling data from The Scott Rasmussen National Survey show strong support for Jewish people and Israel among American registered voters. The poll found that 65% of participants believe the National Guard should be called in "if a college is unable or unwilling to protect Jewish students from anti-semitism."

The poll also showed a plurality of registered voters, 48%, think Vice President Kamala Harris will beat former President Donald Trump, who polled at 44%. Before President Joe Biden dropped out, 50% of participants believed Trump would win.

The survey polled 1,000 registered voters from Aug. 27 to 28. The poll queried registered voters on their views of the Israel-Hamas War, anti-Israel campus protests, the likely outcome of the 2024 election, and hypothetical political contests between pro-Israel and pro-Hamas candidates. The online survey had a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

Support for Israel, 42%, in its war against Hamas is down 5% from Dec. 2023, when 47% of participants voiced their support for the Jewish state. Support for Palestinian groups remained largely unchanged during that period, declining from 12% to 11%.

Participants approved of how Israel has responded to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks by 44% to 36%, showing little movement since Oct. 2023, when 43% approved versus 33% disapproved.

Nearly half of the participants, 47%, believed Jews face more discrimination in the U.S. versus 19% who believed Palestinians face more discrimination in the U.S. The remainder were not sure.

When asked whether Jews or Muslims face more discrimination in the U.S., 37% said Jews versus 35% who said Muslims. The remainder were not sure.

More than three-quarters of participants, 77%, said it was very or somewhat likely "that another round of pro-Palestinian protests will begin on college campuses" with the new school year starting.

When asked whether the pro-Palestinian "protesters will try to prevent Jewish students from attending class," 58% said it was very or somewhat likely to occur.

If colleges were unwilling or unable to protect Jewish students, 65% of participants agreed that "the National Guard [should] be called in to protect those students."

Most participants, 57%, were not sure whether "most professors support Israel or the pro-Palestinian groups." Just over a quarter, 26%, said most professors support pro-Palestinian groups, compared to 17% who said most professors support Israel.

Turning to the political sphere, the survey asked, "Which major political party is more supportive of Jewish Americans?" Republicans were rated the most supportive by 34% of participants, with Democrats not far behind at 31%.

One in five participants said the parties are equally supportive of Jewish Americans. The remainder said neither, 4%, or that they were not sure, 10%.

A majority of participants, 56%, said Israel is an ally of the U.S. A minority, 6%, said Israel is an enemy of the U.S. The remainder said Israel is "somewhere in between," 30%, or that they were not sure, 7%.

A plurality of participants, 41%, said Palestinian groups in Gaza were "somewhere in between" allies and enemies of the U.S. Only 8% called these groups allies compared to 35% who called them enemies. The remainder, 16%, were not sure.

Participants considered traditional Republicans and MAGA Republicans the most supportive of Israel at 56% and 51%, respectively. Only 43% considered traditional Democrats supportive of Israel. Participants viewed progressive Democrats as the least supportive of Israel at 27%.

The survey asked participants which of two hypothetical congressional candidates they preferred: a MAGA Republican or a progressive Democrat. Participants preferred the progressive Democrat to the MAGA Republican 49% to 38%.

The survey then asked whether participants would favor a pro-Israel MAGA Republican or a pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian progressive Democrat running for an unspecified office. Participants preferred the MAGA Republican to the progressive Democrat 42% to 30%.