Of those polled, 48 percent described President Barack Obama's military leadership as "cautious and consultative," 36 percent as "indecisive and dithering," and 17 percent as "strong and decisive" in a question that offered only those three choices.

The poll was taken three days after the US-led bombing campaign against Libya was launched on March 19.

Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed said the United States and its allies should try to remove Libyan leader Gaddafi, who has ruled the oil-exporting North African country for more than four decades.

This finding was similar to a CNN poll released on Tuesday, which found 77 percent of those questioned saying it was very important or somewhat important to remove Gaddafi from power.

The survey showed 60 percent in favor of the Libya military action, with 20 percent strongly supporting it and 40 percent somewhat supporting it. Twenty-five percent somewhat opposed it and 14 percent were strongly against.