Cubans in Florida appear to still favor the U.S. to continue its embargo on Cuba, based on polling data conducted by Latino Decisions by #CubaNow.

Prior to November's midterm elections, Latinos in Florida were polled about U.S. and Cuba diplomatic policies. Among the overall Latinos, 44 percent said the U.S. should replace its policy toward Cuba while 34 said the embargo should continue.Twenty-two percent of Latinos were not sure.

With Cubans, most stated they want the embargo to continue, with 47 percent voting for a prolonged embargo. The second popular response among Cuban respondents, with 39 percent, was in support of new policies between the U.S. and Cuba. Meanwhile, 14 percent of Cubans were not sure on their stance on the issue.

Although, at the time, Cuban Floridians were slightly more in favor of continuing the embargo, Latino Decisions' senior analyst Adrian Pantoja wrote, that the 2014 voting electorate was "more conservative than usual" notably than presidential elections. As a result, the survey's respondents showed a "best case scenario" to maintain the status quo and continue the embargo. According to Pantoja, Cuban American voters are divided on the issue.

Florida Latinos, both Cuban and non-Cuban, said political candidates' stance on U.S. policy toward Cuba does play a factor on whether to vote for him or her. With overall Latinos, 55 percent said a candidates position on policy is "very" or "somewhat" important while 32 percent said it was "not that important" or "not at all important." With only Cuban respondents, 59 percent claimed a candidate's position on U.S. policy toward Cuba is important while 32 percent said it did not matter in the voting booth.

"Florida's pivotal role in presidential elections gave Cuban Americans an exaggerated edge when it came to national politics and dictating American foreign policy toward Cuba," said Pantoja. "Yet, in recent decades, the political power and size of the conservative wing of Cubans in Florida has declined as a result of an influx of Democratic-leaning Latinos to the state, the growth of younger generations of Cuban Americans, and the increase of newer waves of Cuban migrants."

As Latin Post reported, age could play a factor in the normalization process between U.S. and Cuba relations. Obama's announcement to renew diplomatic efforts with the island includes plans to restart trade and travel, establishment of embassies in Havana and Washington, D.C. and a review of Cuba's label as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism."

"We do so in the belief that there are significant issues where we'd benefit from cooperation, like our current efforts to fight Ebola, where Cuba has dispatched hundreds of health care workers to Africa, but also issues like migration, counterterrorism, drug trafficking, disaster response, where practical cooperation can serve the interests of the United States and Cuba," said a senior Obama administration official during a press call last week.

"President Obama has long believed that engagement is a better tool than isolation, and nowhere is that clearer than in Cuba where we have seen a policy of isolation fail for the last 50 years in advancing American interests and values on the island," the official added.

The Latino Decisions poll included interviews with 500 randomly selected Latino registered voters in Florida between Oct. 29 and Nov. 3.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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