Most of the Americans consider the former CIA analyst Edward Snowden as a whistleblower and not a traitor, according to a public-opinion poll released by the Quinnipiac University Wednesday.
Around 55 percent of the poll participants said they believed Edward Snowden was a whistleblower while 34 percent rejected the notion, tagging the American as a traitor.
The poll comes at a time when many people around the world are debating whether Snowden should be punished for the U.S. National Security Agency's surveillance program-leaks or should be hailed as a hero.
The Washington government in recent weeks declared him a wanted person on charges of espionage and theft of government property.
The Obama administration warned that whoever sheltered the American fugitive could jeopardize its relationship with the United States.
Snowden is believed to be holed up in an international airport in Moscow after he flew from Hong Kong following an arrest-warrant issued by the Washington government.
Russia is reportedly concerned by his presence in the country and has said that the sooner he gets a final asylum-destination the better it would be for the Russian government.
He made asylum requests to more than 25 countries but only a few Latin American countries responded. Many countries including France, Italy, Germany and India rejected his asylum request.
In an interview with Aljazeera this week, Glenn Greenwald of The Guardian, who first published the documents that Snowden leaked, said Venezuela would likely be his final destination.
"They're a bigger country, a stronger country and a richer country with more leverage in international affairs," said Glenn Greenwald, adding Venezuela would probably be the safest country as Washington was reportedly putting pressurizing other countries not to take him.
The question widely remains is how will he travel if he chooses Venezuela as his final destination.
