May 26, 2010 - Obama Approval Tips Positive For First Time This Year, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; More Voters Approve Of Kagan Supreme Court Pick Word format American voters approve 48 - 43 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, up from a negative 44 - 46 percent April 21, the first time since December that more voters give him a thumbs up rather than thumbs down, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But voters say 74 - 21 percent that the U.S. economy is in a recession now and disapprove 50 - 44 percent of the way President Obama is handling the economy, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. Voters approve 48 - 30 percent, with 22 percent undecided, of Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Men approve 45 - 34 percent and women approve 50 - 27 percent. Republicans disapprove 57 - 22 percent, but Kagan wins 73 - 10 percent backing from Democrats and 45 - 31 percent support from independent voters. American voters also say 42 - 36 percent that they would vote for a Democrat rather than a Republican in this year's Congressional elections, reversing a 44 - 39 percent Republican lead March 24. Obama's policies have hurt rather than helped their personal financial situation, voters say 29 - 16 percent, with 54 percent who say the policies have made no difference. Going forward, voters expect Obama's policies to hurt rather than help them personally 36 - 28 percent, with 32 percent who expect no difference. "The increase in President Barack Obama's job approval is a welcome step for the White House. His ratings have been in the no man's land of just below parity for some time and now the question is whether this is the beginning of an upward trend or just a blip," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll. "The fact that three out of four American voters still see the nation in recession, despite the claims from the so-called experts, highlights the disconnect between Wall Street, Washington D.C.'s K St. and Main Street," said Brown. "For Obama to get his job approval back over 50 percent, where the White House would like to be, he needs to convince Joe and Jill Six-pack that his programs are helping them." American voters trust Obama 45 - 36 percent over Congressional Republicans to handle the economy. Independent voters trust Obama more 38 - 34 percent. There is a noticeable gender gap in Obama's approval rating: Men disapprove 48 - 45 percent, while women rate him positively 51 - 39 percent. His 48 - 43 percent disapproval from independent voters is a sizable jump from a 50 - 38 percent disapproval in April and responsible for much of the President's overall increase. Democrats approve of his performance 78 - 13 percent while Republicans disapprove 77 - 17 percent. "On the economy, President Obama gets slightly less negative grades: 50 - 44 percent disapprove, compared to 55 - 40 percent disapproval in April. And on creating jobs his 56 - 38 percent disapproval rating last month has improved to 51 - 40 percent disapprove," Brown said. A total of 70 percent of American voters are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with the way things are going in the nation today. And 80 percent say the way things are going makes them more likely to vote this November. Looking at the Kagan nomination, voters split 43 - 43 percent on whether Senators should consider her views on controversial issues, or just her qualifications for the Supreme Court. But voters say 50 - 37 percent that Senators who disagree with Kagan's views would not be justified using a filibuster to block her nomination. Looking at other aspects of Obama's job performance, American voters: Approve 48 - 43 percent of the way he is handling foreign policy; Disapprove 51 - 44 percent of his handling of health care; Approve 45 - 40 percent of his handling of Afghanistan; Approve 49 - 41 percent of his handling of terrorism. From May 19 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,914 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. If the 2010 election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for - the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in your district? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Republican 36% 85% 5% 33% 40% 32% 42% 12% 21% Democrat 42 5 87 30 39 45 35 81 52 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 1 1 6 4 3 4 - 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 2 1 1 1 - - DK/NA 18 9 7 29 17 19 19 6 24 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Republican 27% 42% 37% 28% 42% 50% 8% 27% 65% Democrat 54 38 39 49 40 35 78 48 16 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 4 3 4 2 3 2 5 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 - 1 1 1 1 2 1 - DK/NA 17 15 20 19 15 11 11 21 17 TREND: If the 2010 election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in your district? May 26 Mar 24 Jul 2 Jun 4 Apr 29 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 Republican 36 44 34 32 34 Democrat 42 39 42 42 41 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 1 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 18 16 21 22 22 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 48% 17% 78% 43% 45% 51% 40% 90% 67% Disapprove 43 77 13 48 48 39 51 8 24 DK/NA 9 6 9 9 7 10 9 2 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 60% 46% 42% 51% 45% 50% 79% 58% 19% Disapprove 30 47 49 40 47 45 12 33 75 DK/NA 10 7 9 9 8 6 9 9 6 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 59% Mar 2009) PostVt PreVt APPROVE....... Poll Poll High Low May 26 Apr 21 Mar 25 Mar 25 Feb 11 Jun 4 Apr 21 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009* 2010 Approve 48 44 45 46 45 59 44 Disapprove 43 46 46 49 46 31 46 DK/NA 9 10 9 6 9 10 10 INDEPENDENTS......................................... PostVt PreVt APPROVE...... Poll Poll High Low May 26 Apr 21 Mar 25 Mar 25 Feb 11 Jun 4 Dec 9 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2009 Approve 43 38 40 40 40 57 37 Disapprove 48 50 44 53 49 30 51 DK/NA 9 12 15 7 10 13 11 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 34% 8% 64% 25% 31% 36% 27% 66% 50% Disapprove 57 86 26 65 62 52 64 22 37 DK/NA 9 6 11 10 6 12 9 13 14 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 43% 33% 28% 38% 30% 36% 60% 37% 16% Disapprove 47 59 62 50 63 59 32 51 79 DK/NA 10 8 10 12 7 5 8 12 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? PostVt PreVt APPROVE....... Poll Poll High Low May 26 Mar 25 Mar 25 Feb 11 Jan 13 Mar 4 Mar 25 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 34 36 30 28 32 45 30 Disapprove 57 55 62 63 59 45 62 DK/NA 9 9 8 9 9 10 8 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 26% 48% 16% 20% 25% 28% 26% 27% 30% Disapprove 62 41 73 69 67 58 62 65 55 DK/NA 11 11 10 11 8 14 11 8 15 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 26% 29% 24% 25% 27% 31% 17% 21% 38% Disapprove 61 61 65 61 65 61 74 67 53 DK/NA 13 9 11 14 8 8 9 12 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? PostVt PreVt APPROVE...... Poll Poll High Low May 26 Mar 25 Mar 25 Feb 11 Jan 13 Mar 25 Oct 8 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Approve 26 34 31 28 32 34 25 Disapprove 62 58 60 61 58 58 64 DK/NA 11 8 9 11 11 8 11 5. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Very satisfied 3% 2% 5% 2% 3% 3% 2% 9% 6% Smwht satisfied 26 13 44 21 24 28 21 53 28 Smwht dissatisfied 31 28 31 34 30 32 33 20 31 Very dissatisfied 39 56 18 43 41 36 43 17 33 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 2 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Very satisfied 4% 2% 3% 3% 4% 4% 4% 3% 2% Smwht satisfied 37 22 23 29 23 25 45 31 11 Smwht dissatisfied 32 31 31 31 32 33 32 37 25 Very dissatisfied 26 43 42 36 41 37 17 28 61 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 - 1 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low May 26 Apr 21 Mar 25 Mar 24 Feb 11 Dec 11 Nov 13 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2001 2008 Very satisfied 3 3 4 3 2 21 2 Smwht satisfied 26 28 25 26 24 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 31 29 28 29 33 19 38 Very dissatisfied 39 40 41 41 40 10 44 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 1 3 2 6. Does the way things are going in the nation today make you more likely or less likely to vote in the elections in November this year? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His More likely 80% 89% 81% 77% 81% 80% 80% 91% 73% Less likely 7 2 5 10 7 6 6 2 13 No diff(VOL) 12 9 13 11 11 13 12 5 10 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con More likely 82% 82% 79% 80% 83% 86% 80% 80% 84% Less likely 7 7 6 8 4 6 6 7 7 No diff(VOL) 10 11 14 10 12 8 14 11 9 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - - - 1 1 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 44% 16% 73% 38% 42% 46% 37% 78% 57% Disapprove 50 81 22 54 54 46 57 18 34 DK/NA 6 2 6 8 4 8 6 4 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 53% 41% 39% 45% 42% 49% 73% 54% 18% Disapprove 39 55 55 48 54 48 19 39 79 DK/NA 8 4 6 7 4 3 7 7 3 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? APPROVE...... High Low May 26 Apr 21 Mar 25 Feb 11 Jan 13 Mar 4 Mar 25 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 44 40 39 41 41 57 39 Disapprove 50 55 57 54 54 33 57 DK/NA 6 5 5 5 6 10 5 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 48% 19% 78% 41% 47% 48% 41% 84% 63% Disapprove 43 71 14 49 47 39 50 7 32 DK/NA 9 10 8 9 6 12 10 9 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 58% 46% 41% 49% 45% 54% 78% 57% 22% Disapprove 35 44 48 40 47 42 17 33 70 DK/NA 7 9 11 11 8 4 5 10 8 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy? APPROVE....... High Low May 26 Apr 22 Mar 25 Feb 10 Jan 13 Apr 29 Jan 13 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 48 48 46 46 45 57 45 Disapprove 43 42 43 43 46 32 46 DK/NA 9 10 12 11 9 11 9 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - health care? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 44% 12% 75% 38% 42% 45% 35% 88% 51% Disapprove 51 86 19 56 53 49 60 8 38 DK/NA 6 2 7 7 4 6 5 4 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 56% 39% 40% 45% 41% 43% 78% 50% 15% Disapprove 38 58 53 47 56 56 16 43 81 DK/NA 6 3 7 8 3 1 6 6 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care? PostVt PreVt APPROVE....... Poll Poll High Low May 26 Apr 21 Mar 25 Mar 25 Feb 11 July 2 Jan 13 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 44 40 44 36 35 46 35 Disapprove 51 55 50 58 58 42 58 DK/NA 6 5 6 6 6 13 6 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Afghanistan? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 45% 38% 57% 43% 51% 40% 41% 72% 48% Disapprove 40 47 33 41 38 42 43 20 45 DK/NA 14 15 10 16 10 18 16 7 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 49% 49% 40% 43% 46% 56% 51% 52% 35% Disapprove 39 40 42 40 44 37 41 31 51 DK/NA 12 11 18 17 10 7 8 16 14 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan? APPROVE....... High Low May 26 Apr 22 Mar 25 Feb 10 Jan 13 Mar 25 Nov 18 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Approve 45 49 52 51 45 52 38 Disapprove 40 39 36 39 45 36 49 DK/NA 14 12 12 10 10 12 12 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - creating jobs? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 40% 17% 67% 33% 37% 43% 34% 69% 56% Disapprove 51 77 26 58 57 47 58 24 34 DK/NA 9 6 7 9 6 10 9 8 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 48% 38% 36% 43% 39% 41% 64% 50% 17% Disapprove 43 55 54 48 57 52 27 43 76 DK/NA 9 7 10 10 5 7 9 7 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling creating jobs? May 26 Apr 21 Mar 25 Feb 11 Jan 13 Dec 22 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Approve 40 38 37 37 34 37 Disapprove 51 56 57 56 59 56 DK/NA 9 6 6 7 7 8 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - terrorism? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 49% 21% 75% 46% 50% 48% 42% 87% 57% Disapprove 41 70 18 43 42 41 47 10 34 DK/NA 10 9 7 11 8 11 10 3 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 55% 49% 44% 50% 48% 52% 74% 61% 23% Disapprove 34 43 45 38 45 43 19 28 70 DK/NA 10 8 11 11 7 5 7 11 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling terrorism? May 26 Apr 22 Mar 25 Feb 10 Jan 13 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 Approve 49 49 49 49 48 Disapprove 41 41 41 44 44 DK/NA 10 10 9 8 8 14. Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 48% 22% 73% 45% 45% 50% 43% 79% 49% Disapprove 30 57 10 31 34 27 34 10 24 DK/NA 22 21 18 25 21 23 23 11 26 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 50% 49% 47% 47% 49% 57% 72% 61% 22% Disapprove 24 34 30 28 33 31 12 17 56 DK/NA 26 17 23 25 18 12 16 23 21 15. Should Senators support or oppose Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court based only on whether she is qualified to be a justice, or should they also consider her views on controversial issues like abortion and gay marriage? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Qualifications 43% 34% 47% 48% 46% 41% 44% 35% 35% Consider views 43 57 39 36 41 44 43 49 40 DK/NA 14 10 14 16 13 15 13 16 25 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Qualifications 43% 47% 39% 38% 47% 55% 51% 53% 31% Consider views 45 43 41 44 45 39 41 37 52 DK/NA 12 10 20 18 8 6 9 10 17 16. If Senators did not agree with Elena Kagan on controversial issues like abortion and gay marriage, do you think they would be justified, or not justified in using the filibuster to prevent her nomination from coming to a vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Justified 37% 63% 22% 33% 39% 35% 39% 32% 23% Not justified 50 28 64 54 52 49 50 51 58 DK/NA 13 9 14 13 9 16 11 17 19 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Justified 35% 38% 40% 37% 43% 33% 23% 30% 54% Not justified 55 52 45 49 51 63 66 60 34 DK/NA 10 9 15 14 6 4 11 10 13 17. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Excellent - 2% - - - 1% - 2% 1% Good 12 7 19 10 14 11 10 19 15 Not so good 46 42 52 44 45 47 46 47 52 Poor 40 49 26 44 40 40 43 29 32 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 1 1 1 2 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Excellent 1% - - - - 2% - 1% - Good 13 13 11 12 16 13 18 16 5 Not so good 51 45 42 47 43 48 52 53 35 Poor 35 41 44 40 41 36 29 29 59 DK/NA - 1 2 1 - 1 1 1 1 TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? EXLNT+GOOD.... High Low May 26 Dec 22 Nov 18 Aug 6 July 2 Dec 10 Mar 4 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2003 2009 Excellent - - - - 1 3 - Good 12 7 8 6 7 37 3 Not so good 46 46 42 49 44 42 28 Poor 40 45 49 44 47 16 68 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 18. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Better 32% 12% 52% 30% 35% 30% 30% 42% 34% Worse 24 31 13 27 22 25 25 17 17 The same 43 56 35 42 42 43 44 40 46 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 1 2 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Better 39% 31% 29% 29% 38% 36% 53% 40% 13% Worse 17 27 25 26 20 21 15 16 38 The same 44 41 45 44 41 42 32 44 47 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 TREND: Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 29 Apr 1 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Better 32 28 28 27 24 19 Worse 24 28 29 29 33 32 The same 43 43 41 42 42 47 DK/NA 1 1 2 2 2 2 19. Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Pres Obama 45% 10% 82% 38% 45% 45% 36% 85% 65% Reps in Congress 36 79 7 34 40 32 43 5 20 DK/NA 19 11 12 27 15 22 21 10 15 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Pres Obama 54% 45% 40% 48% 43% 48% 79% 55% 18% Reps in Congress 30 40 37 31 44 38 10 25 65 DK/NA 16 15 23 21 13 14 11 20 17 TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 1 Mar 4 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 President Obama 45 45 47 54 55 56 Reps in Congress 36 36 36 32 27 26 DK/NA 19 19 17 14 18 18 20. Do you think President Obama's policies have helped the economy, hurt the economy, or haven't made a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Helped 39% 12% 69% 31% 37% 41% 33% 77% 40% Hurt 29 59 6 30 31 27 35 3 21 No difference 28 28 21 34 28 28 30 16 30 DK/NA 4 1 4 5 4 4 2 4 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Helped 50% 37% 34% 43% 38% 38% 68% 48% 15% Hurt 15 34 35 25 35 29 8 17 56 No difference 31 27 26 28 25 31 20 33 27 DK/NA 4 1 5 4 2 1 5 2 2 TREND: Do you think President Obama's policies have helped the economy, hurt the economy, or haven't made a difference? May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2009 2009 Helped 39 37 37 Hurt 29 28 29 No difference 28 31 31 DK/NA 4 4 4 21. Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help the economy, will hurt the economy, or won't make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Will help 45% 12% 77% 38% 41% 48% 38% 82% 58% Will hurt 32 65 6 35 36 29 39 3 17 No difference 18 19 13 22 19 17 18 9 26 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 4 6 5 5 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will help 59% 41% 37% 48% 44% 43% 76% 54% 17% Will hurt 21 39 35 26 43 34 8 20 61 No difference 15 17 21 20 12 20 14 21 17 DK/NA 4 3 7 6 1 3 2 5 4 TREND: Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help the economy, will hurt the economy, or won't make a difference? May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2009 2009 Will help 45 49 49 Will hurt 32 29 33 No difference 18 17 14 DK/NA 5 5 4 22. Do you think President Obama's policies have helped your personal financial situation, hurt your personal financial situation, or haven't made a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Helped 16% 5% 29% 11% 15% 17% 12% 32% 30% Hurt 29 50 6 35 31 27 34 4 21 No difference 54 45 63 52 53 54 53 60 48 DK/NA 2 - 2 2 1 2 1 4 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Helped 19% 18% 11% 17% 14% 15% 29% 17% 7% Hurt 17 34 34 24 32 36 12 22 47 No difference 63 48 53 58 52 49 57 60 44 DK/NA 2 - 2 1 2 - 1 1 2 TREND: Do you think President Obama's policies have helped your personal financial situation, hurt your personal financial situation, or haven't made a difference? May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2009 2009 Helped 16 15 13 Hurt 29 26 23 No difference 54 58 63 DK/NA 2 1 1 23. Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help your personal financial situation, will hurt your personal financial situation, or won't make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Will help 28% 7% 52% 21% 25% 31% 22% 62% 42% Will hurt 36 72 7 39 40 33 43 4 18 No difference 32 19 36 36 32 32 31 31 39 DK/NA 4 2 4 3 2 5 4 3 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will help 40% 28% 20% 33% 26% 24% 53% 33% 10% Will hurt 20 45 39 29 43 43 10 27 63 No difference 38 25 35 34 29 32 35 37 24 DK/NA 2 2 6 4 2 1 2 3 3 TREND: Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help your personal financial situation, will hurt your personal financial situation, or won't make a difference? May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2009 2009 Will help 28 31 33 Will hurt 36 37 36 No difference 32 30 28 DK/NA 4 2 3 24. Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 74% 85% 64% 76% 75% 74% 76% 63% 79% No 21 13 29 21 22 20 20 28 18 DK/NA 5 2 7 3 3 6 4 9 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 71% 77% 75% 75% 78% 69% 68% 72% 83% No 25 19 19 19 20 28 28 25 14 DK/NA 3 4 6 6 2 3 4 3 3 TREND: Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now? May 26 May 15 2010 2008 Yes 74 71 No 21 24 DK/NA 5 5 25. Do you approve or disapprove of the federal health care overhaul? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 40% 13% 69% 35% 40% 41% 34% 68% 52% Disapprove 51 83 23 54 53 50 58 23 40 DK/NA 8 4 8 11 8 9 8 9 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 51% 37% 37% 44% 36% 44% 73% 51% 12% Disapprove 40 59 52 46 60 54 21 41 81 DK/NA 9 4 11 10 4 1 6 8 8 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the federal health care overhaul? May 26 Apr 21 2010 2010 Approve 40 39 Disapprove 51 53 DK/NA 8 8 26. Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Right thing 49% 70% 35% 50% 55% 44% 54% 29% 42% Shld not be inv 42 23 56 40 39 44 36 63 53 DK/NA 9 7 9 10 6 13 10 8 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Right thing 42% 57% 46% 39% 57% 63% 35% 48% 60% Shld not be inv 48 37 42 50 35 32 60 44 30 DK/NA 10 6 12 11 8 6 5 8 10 TREND: Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now? RIGHT THING... High Low May 26 Apr 22 Mar 25 Feb 10 Jan 14 Jan 14 Nov 18 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Right thing 49 56 55 56 59 59 48 Shouldn't be inv 42 36 37 37 35 35 41 DK/NA 9 8 8 7 6 6 11
