Plurality Favors Cuban Boys Return

Analysis By Gary Langer, ABCNEWS.com

NEW YORK, Dec. 13 A plurality of Americans say Elian Gonzalez should go home to his father.

In an ABCNEWS.com poll, 46 percent say the 6-year-old boy should be returned to his father in Cuba, while 33 percent say he should remain with relatives in the United States. About one in six are undecided about the controversial case.

Elian clung to an inner tube in the Florida Straits for two days after a boat carrying illegal immigrants from Cuba sank off Florida; 11 people drowned, including his mother and stepfather. His rescue Nov. 25 ignited a debate on his future: His U.S. relatives, backed by Cuban-American groups, want to keep him; his father, supported by the Cuban government, wants him back.

U.S. officials in Cuba met today with the father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, to establish his parental rights. On Friday, the boys relatives in the United States filed a claim of political asylum on his behalf.

The question in this poll did not directly raise politics: "As you may know, a 6-year-old boy from Cuba was rescued at sea off the coast of Florida recently. His mother drowned and his father in Cuba wants the boy back. Do you think the boy should be returned to his father in Cuba, or should remain with his relatives in the United States?"

Among the few differences among groups, Republicans are somewhat more apt to say Gonzalez should be returned to his father; 53 percent say so, compared to 42 percent of Democrats. Men are slightly more apt to favor returning the boy to Cuba, while slightly more women are undecided.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone Dec. 8-12 among a random national sample of 1,013 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Field work was done by ICR-International Communications Research of Media, Pa. 

Gary Langer is the head of ABCNEWS polling unit