Washington ( CNN ) -- Nearly three-quarters of all Americans think Tibet should be an independent country , according to a new national poll . However , the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Thursday also indicates that most Americans think it is more important to maintain good relations with China than to take a stand on Tibet . The poll 's release came as President Obama was to meet with the Dalai Lama , Tibet 's spiritual leader in exile , at the White House . The Dalai Lama is popular with Americans , according to the survey , with 56 percent holding a favorable view of him and only 18 percent having an unfavorable impression . `` That puts him in the same neighborhood as other major religious figures , '' says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland . `` Favorable ratings for the pope , at 59 percent , and Billy Graham , at 57 percent , are virtually identical to the numbers for the Dalai Lama . '' The poll also indicates that 53 percent say it 's more important for the United States to take a strong stand on human rights in China than to maintain good relations with Beijing , with 44 percent saying good relations are more important . Analysis : Meeting could hurt relations with China . By a 6-point margin , the survey also shows that more Americans say taking a strong stand on Taiwan by force is more important than maintaining good relations with Beijing . The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted February 12-15 , with 1,023 adult Americans questioned by telephone . The survey 's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the overall survey . CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this story .
Most support Tibetan independence from China , CNN poll says . Poll also suggests 56 percent of Americans have favorable view of Dalai Lama . Comment: