Here's an instance where the 47 percent is a heartening number for a Republican candidate for president.

The new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds that a plurality of Americans – precisely 47 percent, the number that plagued Mitt Romney after he was caught on tape talking about those who wouldn't support him– think the U.S. should become less active in world affairs. Just 19 percent want to be more active.

And it's true even among Republicans, which could be good news for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

NBC's Mark Murray was kind enough to pass along the crosstabs of the survey, which show the belief is held across both parties.

[POLL: Obama Weights Down Democrats Ahead of 2014]



The question: "Now, in your view, should the U.S. become more active in world affairs, less active in world affairs, or continue its current level of activity in world affairs?



Dems: 45 percent less active, 12 percent more active, 41 percent at the current level

Gopers: 45 percent less active, 29 percent more active, 21 percent at the current level

Independents: 58 percent less active, 12 percent more active, 22 percent at the current level

This is important because a major knock against Paul's potential presidential candidacy has been the citation of fears among GOP graybeards and donors that he is not strong enough on national security issues and too inclined toward isolationism. While that fear may be real within the hawkish ranks of the Republican Party, this poll demonstrates that Paul's view may be more congruous with the actual voters.

Over the last two months, the primary Republican critique lobbed against President Obama is that he hasn't acted strong enough in the crisis with Russia.

But the data shows that not even a third of Republicans say the U.S. should become "more active" internationally.

[READ: The Senate 7 - The GOP's Curbed Enthusiasm]

To be fair, Paul has done a great deal of groundwork to convince Republicans he's no isolationist. What he's tried to convey is a doctrine of peace through strength.

A key line in his speech to The Citadel last fall:



"The first and primary function of our government is a strong national defense – bar none," Paul said to sustained applause as he stood in the well of the military college's field house populated with cadets. "But so much of what we do in Washington today is more like an irrational offense."

