Poll: Public strongly opposes Ground Zero mosque

A large majority of Americans oppose the construction of a mosque near the Ground Zero site in lower Manhattan, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The CNN/Opinion Research survey showed that 68 percent oppose the plan to build the mosque, compared to 29 percent who favor it.

Several Republicans in Congress have called for an investigation into the funding sources for the proposed Cordoba House, which will stand two blocks from Ground Zero. Members are worried that some money for the large facility comes from organizatons with ties to Islamic extremists.

Other lawmakers, such as New York Rep. Pete King (R), have said that the construction of the mosque is insensitive in light of its location, the site of the 9/11 terror attacks perpetrated by members of al Qaeda. 

A majority of all political groups polled oppose the mosque. Forty-three percent of Democrats support it and 54 percent say they are opposed. Eighty-two percent of Republicans are against the mosque, as opposed to just 17 percent who support it.

A whopping 70 percent of independents are against the mosque, compared to 24 percent who support it. 

Backers of the mosque say that blocking its construction would violate constitutional protections of religious freedom. The Cordoba Initiative, the group behind the project, says it wants to use the center to promote a peaceful brand of Islam.

Still, a number of groups, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), have come out against it.

In a separate poll, 53 percent of New York City voters say they oppose the construction of the mosque, compared to 34 percent who say they support it. 

The poll surveyed 1,009 adult Americans, including 935 registered voters, between Aug. 6-10.