July 22, 2010 - American Voters Want Jobs Over Deficit Reduction 2-1, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Say Recovery Has Not Begun Word format American voters say 64 - 30 percent that reducing unemployment is more important than reducing the federal budget deficit, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Even Republicans say 58 - 38 percent that reducing unemployment is more important. The U.S. remains in a recession, 79 percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, compared to 74 percent who felt that way in May and 71 percent who said so in May of 2008, when the economy began its slide. American voters say 52 - 44 percent the economy is not beginning to recover. Only 23 percent say the economy is getting better, while 31 percent say it is getting worse and 44 percent see no change. In May, 32 percent of voters thought the economy was getting better, while 24 percent said it was getting worse and 43 percent saw no change. "The public seems to be reassessing the view held through the winter and spring, when they thought economic conditions were lousy but could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now they aren't seeing that light," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. While 41 percent of American voters trust President Barack Obama to handle the economy, 42 percent say they trust congressional Republicans more. Independent voters, a key voting bloc, favor congressional Republicans 42 - 35 percent. Voters disapprove 56 - 39 percent of the way President Obama is handling the economy, with independents giving him a thumbs down 61 - 34 percent. The good news for Obama is that by 53 - 25 percent they blame former President George W. Bush more than Obama for the current economic conditions, compared to blaming Bush 55 - 20 percent in a January Quinnipiac University survey. "When a majority, albeit a small one, doesn't think that the economy is even beginning to recover; when 79 percent think we are still in recession and 75 percent say the economy is going nowhere - or going down - it is difficult to conclude that the country thinks the worst is behind us," said Brown. "Wall Street may be debating whether the country is at risk of a double-dip recession, but Main Street thinks the original one never ended. So far voters blame Bush more than Obama, but it's not clear how long that view will last." While voters want more jobs more than they want deficit reduction, they say 49 - 45 percent that Obama is being irresponsible by spending too much government money. And voters say 53 - 39 percent that government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals. There is a political and racial tilt in the numbers: Democrats say 42 - 14 percent the economy is getting better and see a recovery 66 - 30 percent. Republicans say it is getting worse 41 - 9 percent and not recovering 69 - 27 percent. Independents say the economy is worsening 37 - 18 percent and not recovering 56 - 39 percent. Only 21 percent of whites, 42 percent of blacks and 28 percent of Hispanics see the economy improving, while 40 percent of whites, 68 percent of blacks and 52 percent of Hispanics think the recovery is underway. But, there is no difference by party on whether the country is in recession, with 83 percent of Republicans, 79 percent of independents and 75 percent of Democrats saying so. "To a considerable degree, how Americans view the economy and which way it is going depends on party and race," said Brown. "By comparison, the gender and age and even income gaps on these questions are smaller." Voters split 33 - 34 percent on whether Obama's policies have helped rather than hurt the economy. By 41 - 36 percent they believe those policies will help the economy in the future. Voters say 30 - 14 percent that Obama's policies have hurt rather than helped their personal finances. Voters also say 36 - 26 percent that his policies will hurt their finances in the future, while 35 percent see no difference. From July 13 - 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,181 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.1 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. 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 39% 10% 74% 34% 36% 42% 33% 79% 55% Disapprove 56 87 22 61 59 53 62 12 43 DK/NA 5 3 4 6 5 5 5 9 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 42% 42% 35% 45% 38% 35% 71% 50% 15% Disapprove 54 52 60 50 58 60 26 44 81 DK/NA 3 6 6 5 4 5 3 6 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 38% 43% 19% 26% 32% Disapprove 57 52 77 69 64 DK/NA 5 5 5 5 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? (*Low also 39% Mar 2010) APPROVE...... High Low Jul 21 May 26 Apr 21 Mar 25 Feb 11 Mar 4 Jul 21 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010* Approve 39 44 40 39 41 57 39 Disapprove 56 50 55 57 54 33 56 DK/NA 5 6 5 5 5 10 5 22. Which comes closer to your view: A) government should do more to solve problems or B) government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His A) Should do more 39% 18% 64% 36% 38% 41% 34% 74% 53% B) Doing too much 53 80 26 56 57 49 60 11 40 DK/NA 8 2 11 8 6 9 6 15 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con A) Should do more 46% 41% 35% 46% 37% 33% 67% 44% 22% B) Doing too much 47 52 56 45 58 61 22 48 72 DK/NA 6 7 9 9 5 6 11 8 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath A) Should do more 39% 41% 27% 29% 25% B) Doing too much 53 53 69 65 68 DK/NA 8 6 5 7 6 TREND: Which comes closer to your view: A) government should do more to solve problems, or B) government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals? Jul 22 Mar 24 2010 2010 A) Should do more 39 42 B) Doing too much 53 54 DK/NA 8 5 23. How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right - almost all of the time, most of the time, only some of the time, or hardly ever? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Almost all the time 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 4% 2% Most of the time 16 9 32 10 15 18 14 22 30 Some of the time 50 46 52 52 47 53 51 57 35 Hardly ever 31 43 12 36 36 27 33 14 32 DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 1 1 4 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Almost all the time - 2% 2% 3% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% Most of the time 16 16 17 16 19 15 28 19 8 Some of the time 52 52 46 49 50 57 52 57 43 Hardly ever 31 29 33 31 31 27 17 22 46 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - - - 1 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Almost all the time 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% Most of the time 15 18 10 14 13 Some of the time 48 55 45 47 54 Hardly ever 34 25 43 37 31 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 - TREND: How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right - almost all of the time, most of the time, only some of the time, or hardly ever? Jul 22 Mar 24 Feb 11 2010 2010 2010 Almost all the time 2 2 2 Most of the time 16 17 16 Some of the time 50 50 54 Hardly ever 31 30 27 DK/NA 1 1 1 28. 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 1% 1% 1% - 1% - 1% 2% - Good 9 4 19 6 8 10 7 23 18 Not so good 43 33 54 39 43 42 41 57 41 Poor 47 62 24 55 48 46 51 15 41 DK/NA 1 - 2 - 1 1 1 4 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Excellent - 1% - 1% 1% - - 1% 1% Good 10 8 9 11 8 8 17 11 4 Not so good 51 43 37 42 45 42 51 51 31 Poor 39 47 52 45 47 49 29 38 64 DK/NA - 1 1 1 - - 2 - 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Excellent 1% - 1% - - Good 9 10 4 5 8 Not so good 42 44 35 37 44 Poor 48 45 60 56 47 DK/NA 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 Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Nov 18 Aug 6 Dec 10 Mar 4 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2003 2009 Excellent 1 - - - - 3 - Good 9 12 7 8 6 37 3 Not so good 43 46 46 42 49 42 28 Poor 47 40 45 49 44 16 68 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 1 - 29. 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 23% 9% 42% 18% 24% 22% 21% 42% 28% Worse 31 41 14 37 33 30 32 15 32 The same 44 49 42 44 43 46 46 41 40 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Better 24% 23% 22% 23% 25% 26% 43% 29% 9% Worse 23 32 35 32 27 31 16 23 47 The same 52 44 41 45 47 42 39 48 43 DK/NA - 1 2 1 - 1 2 1 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Better 21% 27% 14% 18% 21% Worse 33 26 42 36 32 The same 44 46 43 45 46 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 TREND: Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 29 Apr 1 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Better 23 32 28 28 27 24 19 Worse 31 24 28 29 29 33 32 The same 44 43 43 41 42 42 47 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 30. 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 41% 7% 80% 35% 38% 44% 34% 88% 55% Reps in Congress 42 82 9 42 47 37 48 3 34 DK/NA 17 11 11 23 15 19 18 8 12 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Pres Obama 43% 44% 38% 47% 38% 37% 83% 50% 14% Reps in Congress 44 39 44 37 47 48 9 32 68 DK/NA 13 17 18 17 15 15 8 19 17 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Pres Obama 39% 46% 18% 25% 34% Reps in Congress 43 38 63 55 49 DK/NA 17 16 19 20 17 TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 1 Mar 4 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 President Obama 41 45 45 47 54 55 56 Reps in Congress 42 36 36 36 32 27 26 DK/NA 17 19 19 17 14 18 18 31. 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 33% 7% 62% 28% 32% 33% 28% 63% 38% Hurt 34 58 7 40 39 30 39 2 24 No difference 31 33 28 30 28 33 30 31 36 DK/NA 3 2 2 3 1 4 3 4 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Helped 30% 36% 31% 35% 33% 32% 64% 40% 11% Hurt 25 32 42 28 37 39 8 21 59 No difference 42 29 24 34 28 28 26 36 27 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 2 1 2 3 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Helped 30% 39% 16% 23% 27% Hurt 35 30 54 48 40 No difference 31 29 27 26 31 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 2 TREND: Do you think President Obama's policies have helped the economy, hurt the economy, or haven't made a difference? Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2010 2009 2009 Helped 33 39 37 37 Hurt 34 29 28 29 No difference 31 28 31 31 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 32. 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 41% 10% 76% 35% 37% 44% 34% 86% 58% Will hurt 36 66 7 40 41 32 42 2 21 No difference 19 21 15 21 19 19 20 11 20 DK/NA 4 3 3 4 2 5 4 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will help 43% 45% 36% 46% 39% 40% 76% 51% 17% Will hurt 31 34 41 30 39 40 9 23 61 No difference 22 17 19 19 19 19 11 23 19 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 3 1 4 3 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Will help 39% 46% 17% 26% 33% Will hurt 37 34 57 49 46 No difference 19 18 21 21 17 DK/NA 4 2 5 4 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? Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2010 2009 2009 Will help 41 45 49 49 Will hurt 36 32 29 33 No difference 19 18 17 14 DK/NA 4 5 5 4 33. 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 14% 4% 28% 11% 14% 14% 10% 34% 25% Hurt 30 50 8 34 32 29 35 4 17 No difference 54 45 61 54 53 55 54 58 56 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Helped 18% 16% 11% 19% 12% 11% 29% 16% 6% Hurt 23 29 36 26 29 33 9 21 48 No difference 59 54 51 53 58 55 61 62 45 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 - 1 1 1 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Helped 13% 17% 7% 9% 9% Hurt 31 28 44 43 37 No difference 54 54 47 47 53 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 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? Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2010 2009 2009 Helped 14 16 15 13 Hurt 30 29 26 23 No difference 54 54 58 63 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 34. 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 26% 6% 50% 21% 25% 27% 19% 69% 37% Will hurt 36 63 9 41 40 33 42 1 22 No difference 35 29 38 36 33 37 35 27 41 DK/NA 3 2 3 2 2 4 3 3 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will help 29% 29% 21% 33% 22% 19% 49% 29% 12% Will hurt 26 37 42 28 39 47 9 26 59 No difference 43 32 33 37 38 33 36 42 27 DK/NA 1 2 4 3 1 1 6 2 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Will help 25% 26% 12% 16% 17% Will hurt 36 37 56 50 46 No difference 35 35 28 31 35 DK/NA 4 1 4 3 2 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? Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Aug 6 2010 2010 2009 2009 Will help 26 28 31 33 Will hurt 36 36 37 36 No difference 35 32 30 28 DK/NA 3 4 2 3 35. Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 79% 83% 75% 79% 77% 81% 80% 74% 71% No 18 14 22 18 20 16 17 22 28 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 5 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 75% 80% 80% 79% 78% 75% 76% 77% 82% No 24 17 16 18 20 24 22 21 14 DK/NA 1 3 4 3 2 1 2 3 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 80% 76% 80% 82% 78% No 17 22 14 15 17 DK/NA 4 2 5 4 5 TREND: Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now? Jul 22 May 26 May 15 2010 2010 2008 Yes 79 74 71 No 18 21 24 DK/NA 3 5 5 36. Do you think the economy is beginning to recover or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 44% 27% 66% 39% 44% 44% 40% 68% 52% No 52 69 30 56 52 51 55 25 47 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 4 5 4 7 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 49% 44% 41% 44% 47% 46% 66% 53% 27% No 49 53 52 51 51 51 33 42 68 DK/NA 2 3 7 6 1 2 2 5 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 42% 49% 31% 37% 41% No 53 48 63 58 54 DK/NA 5 3 6 5 4 37. What do you think is more important - reducing the federal budget deficit or reducing unemployment? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Deficit 30% 38% 18% 33% 34% 26% 31% 20% 35% Unemployment 64 58 77 61 62 67 64 75 57 DK/NA 6 5 5 6 4 7 6 6 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Deficit 33% 30% 29% 30% 30% 32% 17% 25% 41% Unemployment 64 67 62 64 66 66 79 71 52 DK/NA 3 3 9 6 3 2 4 4 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Deficit 31% 28% 36% 30% 38% Unemployment 63 67 56 62 57 DK/NA 6 5 8 7 5 TREND: What do you think is more important - reducing the federal budget deficit or reducing unemployment? Jul 22 Feb 11 2010 2010 Reducing deficit 30 23 Reducing unemploy 64 71 DK/NA 6 6 38. Who do you blame more for the current condition of the U.S. economy - former President George W. Bush or President Barack Obama? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Bush 53% 20% 84% 52% 52% 55% 48% 84% 70% Obama 25 49 5 25 28 22 28 3 12 NEITHER(VOL) 10 14 6 10 9 11 10 9 6 BOTH(VOL) 7 10 2 9 9 6 8 1 7 DK/NA 4 7 3 4 3 6 5 3 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Bush 62% 56% 47% 59% 53% 52% 88% 62% 29% Obama 17 22 32 19 26 31 4 15 43 NEITHER(VOL) 9 12 8 9 12 10 3 14 10 BOTH(VOL) 7 7 8 9 5 5 2 6 11 DK/NA 5 3 4 4 3 2 3 4 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Bush 52% 57% 30% 39% 48% Obama 26 21 39 35 31 NEITHER(VOL) 9 14 13 12 10 BOTH(VOL) 8 6 11 10 9 DK/NA 5 2 7 5 2 TREND: Who do you blame more for the current condition of the U.S. economy - Former President George W. Bush or President Barack Obama? Jul 22 Jan 13 2010 2010 Bush 53 55 Obama 25 20 NEITHER(VOL) 10 14 BOTH(VOL) 7 7 DK/NA 4 4 39. Some people say that President Obama is being fiscally irresponsible by spending too much government money. Others say President Obama is being fiscally responsible by only spending money where it is needed. Which comes closer to your view? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Irresponsible 49% 82% 13% 54% 55% 43% 56% 3% 37% Responsible 45 14 81 40 42 49 39 91 56 DK/NA 6 4 6 6 4 8 6 6 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Irresponsible 48% 45% 53% 41% 52% 57% 14% 38% 76% Responsible 49 48 40 52 44 40 80 56 18 DK/NA 3 7 7 6 4 3 5 6 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Irresponsible 49% 48% 71% 64% 59% Responsible 45 47 23 30 36 DK/NA 6 5 6 6 5 TREND: Some people say that President Obama is being fiscally irresponsible by spending too much government money. Others say President Obama is being fiscally responsible by only spending money where it is needed. Which comes closer to your view? Jul 22 Jan 13 2010 2010 Irresponsible 49 53 Responsible 45 43 DK/NA 6 4
