January 13, 2011 - Obama's Approval Bounces Back, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Health Care Is Best And Worst Thing He's Done Word format Halfway through his first term, President Barack Obama has a 48 - 44 percent approval rating, rebounding almost to the magic 50 percent threshold for the first time since October of 2009. American voters split 47 - 45 percent on whether his presidency is a success or a failure, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 26 percent of American voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh pe-ack) University survey that health care is the best thing President Obama has done. In a separate open-ended question, 27 percent of voters list health care as the worst thing he has done. "The president's job approval has improved, whether in reaction to GOP success in November's elections, the deals he was able to negotiate with congressional Republicans during the lame duck session or some other reasons," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Whether this is the beginning of a change in public opinion about the president or just a blip we'll see as events unfold in the coming year." Although the president's overall rating has improved, there is little change in the pattern of his support: Women approve 52 - 40 percent; Men disapprove 48 - 45 percent; Blacks approve 89 - 6 percent; Hispanics approve 64 - 19 percent; Whites disapprove 53 - 39 percent; Democrats approve 85 - 10; Republicans disapprove 84 - 12 percent; Independent voters disapprove 46 - 41 percent. "President Barack Obama's improvement in the polls - he had a 49 - 44 percent disapproval overall from the country when Quinnipiac University polled on November 17, just after the election and before the lame duck congressional session - comes from the groups one would expect first to come back his way," said Brown. President Obama also scores better when asked about comparisons to former President George W. Bush and 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain than he had in past polls. American voters say 46 - 30 percent that Obama has been a better president than George W. Bush, a larger margin than in November when they said so 43 - 37 percent. Voters also say 41 - 32 percent that the country would be worse off if McCain had won the 2008 election. "On balance, the American people are giving him thumbs up halfway through his presidency," said Brown. "Given the pasting his party took at the polls in November, the president and his supporters can take some heart that things aren't all that bad politically for Obama's re-election." But voters oppose by a narrow 45 - 42 percent margin the idea being pushed by Obama's Democratic allies in the U.S. Senate to require 51 votes to break a filibuster and pass legislation rather than the current requirement of 60 votes to break a filibuster. "There is no groundswell of support for changing the filibuster rule," said Brown. Voters approve 47 - 38 percent Obama's handling of foreign policy, but they disapprove 55 - 30 percent of his handling of illegal immigration. Obama is honest and trustworthy, voters say 63 - 31 percent; he has strong leadership qualities, voters say 64 - 33 percent, and generally shares their views on issues they care about, voters say 49 - 46 percent. Given four choices, 44 percent say they like Obama and his policies, while 2 percent don't like him but like his policies. Another 29 percent like him personally but not his policies and 19 percent dislike both him and his policies. From January 4 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,647 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. 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. 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 12 85 41 45 52 39 89 64 Disapprove 44 84 10 46 48 40 53 6 19 DK/NA 8 4 5 12 7 9 7 5 17 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 56 45 47 51 48 45 81 53 23 Disapprove 34 49 45 42 43 46 11 37 72 DK/NA 10 6 8 7 8 9 8 9 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 46 53 26 32 38 Disapprove 45 41 69 62 51 DK/NA 9 6 4 6 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 59% Mar 2009 **Low also 44% Jul 2010, Apr 2010, Sep 2010) PstHlth APPROVE....... VtPoll High Low Jan 13 Nov 17 Sep 09 Jul 21 Mar 25 Jun 04 Nov 17 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009* 2010** Approve 48 44 44 44 45 59 44 Disapprove 44 49 47 48 46 31 49 DK/NA 8 6 9 8 9 10 6 5. Which one of the following statements comes closest to the way you feel about Barack Obama - A) I like Barack Obama as a person and I also like most of his policies B) I like Barack Obama as a person but I don't like most of his policies C) I don't like Barack Obama as a person but I do like most of his policies D) I don't like Barack Obama as a person and I also don't like most of his policies? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Person/Policies 44 8 81 35 40 47 35 83 60 Person/Not policies 29 42 10 39 31 28 32 13 27 Policies/Not person 2 3 1 - 2 1 2 - 0 Not Pol/Not person 19 38 3 19 20 17 23 1 7 DK/NA 7 9 5 6 7 7 7 3 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Person/Policies 50 43 40 45 45 42 75 47 21 Person/Not policies 24 30 32 30 28 31 15 32 33 Policies/Not person 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 Not Pol/Not person 14 21 19 16 21 20 3 11 38 DK/NA 8 5 6 7 5 6 6 6 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Person/Policies 42 47 22 27 33 Person/Not policies 29 31 29 33 38 Policies/Not person 2 1 4 2 2 Not Pol/Not person 20 16 33 30 21 DK/NA 8 4 12 8 6 TREND: Which one of the following statements comes closest to the way you feel about Barack Obama - A) I like Barack Obama as a person and I also like most of his policies B) I like Barack Obama as a person but I don't like most of his policies C) I don't like Barack Obama as a person but I do like most of his policies D) I don't like Barack Obama as a person and I also don't like most of his policies? Jan 13 Nov 19 2011 2009 Person/Policies 44 46 Person/Not policies 29 28 Policies/Not person 2 1 Not pol/Not person 19 20 DK/NA 7 5 6. Regardless of your overall opinion of Barack Obama, what do you think is the best thing he has done as President? Tot Economy and Jobs - General 2 Extended unemployment benefits 1 Stimulus plan - General 1 Budget - General 1 Taxes - General 1 Tax Deal - Extended Bush tax cuts 3 Health care - General 25 Health care - Increased coverage 1 War - Afghanistan - General 1 War - Afghanistan/Set deadline for withdrawal 1 War - Iraq - General 1 DADT - Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal 3 GITMO - Hasn't closed Guantanamo 1 International Policies/ Actions - General 1 National - Set a new tone and direction for country 1 National - Brings the country together 1 Partisanship/Bipartisan/ Works well with Reps 2 Education 1 First black President 1 He hasn't done anything good 16 Everything is good 1 Other 12 DK/NA 18 7. Regardless of your overall opinion of Barack Obama, what do you think is the worst thing he has done as President? Tot Economy and Jobs - General 3 Economy and Jobs - Hasn't helped enough/Recovery is too slow 1 Stimulus plan - General 1 Bailouts - Wall Street/ Banks/TARP 1 Bailouts - General 1 Budget Deficit - Increased debt/Increased gov spending 3 Tax Deal - Extended Bush tax cuts - General 1 Tax Deal - Extended Bush tax cuts for wealthy 2 Health care - General 26 Health care - Failed/Gave in on important prts of plan 1 War - Afghanistan - General 5 War - Iraq - General 1 DADT - Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal 2 Gitmo - Hasn't closed Guantanamo Bay 1 International Policies/ Actions - General 1 Environment - Gulf oil spill 1 Doesn't stand up to Republicans/Compromises too much with Reps 4 Immigration 2 Staff - Appointed/Hired worst people 1 Everything is bad 1 He hasn't done anything bad 7 Other 15 DK/NA 16 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 47 17 72 45 46 49 41 71 61 Disapprove 38 68 15 39 43 34 43 15 26 DK/NA 15 15 12 16 12 17 15 14 13 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 51 46 46 47 48 51 72 54 25 Disapprove 37 40 38 37 40 37 18 33 58 DK/NA 13 14 17 17 12 13 10 14 17 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 43 56 26 32 48 Disapprove 39 36 54 50 37 DK/NA 18 8 20 18 14 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy? APPROVE....... High Low Jan 13 Nov 18 Sep 09 Jul 21 Apr 22 Apr 29 Jul 21 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 47 46 45 43 48 57 43 Disapprove 38 44 44 46 42 32 46 DK/NA 15 10 11 12 10 11 12 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling - illegal immigration? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 30 11 52 26 26 35 24 60 40 Disapprove 55 75 30 62 61 48 61 26 41 DK/NA 15 14 18 13 13 17 15 14 19 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 41 29 24 33 29 33 47 35 16 Disapprove 47 56 59 52 58 51 34 50 73 DK/NA 12 16 17 15 13 16 19 15 11 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 30 30 18 21 25 Disapprove 55 53 67 65 63 DK/NA 14 17 15 14 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling illegal immigration? Jan 13 Sep 13 Jul 21 2011 2010 2010 Approve 30 28 30 Disapprove 55 60 58 DK/NA 15 12 12 17. Do you think Barack Obama's two years as President have been mainly a success or mainly a failure? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Success 47 13 82 39 42 52 39 83 65 Failure 45 82 11 50 50 40 54 7 25 DK/NA 8 5 7 11 8 7 7 10 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Success 53 46 44 49 49 44 81 51 23 Failure 40 48 46 43 44 51 14 40 72 DK/NA 8 6 9 9 6 5 6 9 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Success 45 53 25 30 37 Failure 47 40 69 63 55 DK/NA 8 7 6 7 8 18. Do you think Barack Obama has been a better President than George W. Bush, worse, or about the same as President Bush? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Better 46 6 84 40 42 50 38 81 61 Worse 30 69 2 30 30 29 36 4 19 About the same 22 22 13 27 25 19 24 13 12 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Better 50 45 45 47 47 45 84 52 18 Worse 22 32 32 26 30 36 3 23 55 About the same 22 21 22 24 20 16 12 23 24 DK/NA 6 2 1 2 3 2 1 3 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Better 44 52 24 30 35 Worse 31 27 51 46 28 About the same 23 18 24 20 35 DK/NA 2 3 1 4 2 TREND: Do you think Barack Obama has been a better President than George W. Bush, worse, or about the same as President Bush? Jan 13 Nov 17 Jul 21 Jan 13 2011 2010 2010 2010 Better 46 43 42 43 Worse 30 37 32 30 About the same 22 19 23 23 DK/NA 3 2 3 4 19. In the Presidential election of 2008, if John McCain had become President instead of Barack Obama, do you think that, in general, the nation would be better off than it is today or worse off than it is today? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Better off 32 72 5 30 34 30 38 7 13 Worse off 41 8 75 35 38 44 35 65 59 SAME (VOL) 14 8 10 20 15 13 14 12 17 DK/NA 13 12 10 15 12 14 13 15 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Better off 25 35 34 29 33 37 7 29 53 Worse off 41 41 42 42 43 39 74 43 19 SAME (VOL) 19 13 12 15 14 15 13 15 13 DK/NA 16 12 12 14 10 10 7 13 14 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Better off 33 29 51 45 36 Worse off 38 48 23 25 34 SAME (VOL) 14 14 13 15 17 DK/NA 14 10 13 15 13 TREND: In the Presidential election of 2008, if John McCain had become President instead of Barack Obama, do you think that, in general, the nation would be better off than it is today or worse off than it is today? Jan 13 Jul 21 Jan 13 2011 2010 2010 Better off 32 37 35 Worse off 41 35 37 SAME(VOL) 14 15 17 DK/NA 13 13 11 20. How would you describe your feelings toward President Obama: admire, satisfied, dissatisfied, or angry? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Admire 21 5 42 14 14 27 17 44 22 Satisfied 34 13 47 35 35 33 28 51 56 Dissatisfied 35 65 8 40 38 32 42 5 16 Angry 9 16 2 9 11 7 11 - 6 DK/NA 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Admire 22 22 20 22 22 18 43 20 9 Satisfied 40 29 34 35 34 34 42 40 20 Dissatisfied 28 38 36 32 36 37 12 32 52 Angry 8 10 8 9 8 9 1 5 18 DK/NA 1 1 3 2 - 2 1 2 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Admire 21 22 8 14 13 Satisfied 32 36 21 20 35 Dissatisfied 36 32 51 50 40 Angry 9 9 17 14 9 DK/NA 2 1 3 2 3 TREND: How would you describe your feelings toward President Obama: admire, satisfied, dissatisfied, or angry? Jan 13 Jul 21 Jan 13 2011 2010 2010 Admire 21 17 19 Satisfied 34 33 34 Dissatisfied 35 33 30 Angry 9 15 15 DK/NA 2 2 2 21. Would you say that Barack Obama - is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 63 36 91 59 60 66 57 89 80 No 31 56 5 36 34 29 37 6 15 DK/NA 6 8 4 5 6 5 6 5 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 69 60 63 65 64 62 88 68 42 No 27 36 29 29 32 34 8 26 53 DK/NA 4 5 8 6 4 4 4 6 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 62 67 42 47 64 No 32 29 50 46 31 DK/NA 7 4 8 7 5 TREND: Would you say that Barack Obama is honest and trustworthy or not? Jan 13 Sep 09 Jan 13 2011 2010 2010 Yes 63 55 56 No 31 38 37 DK/NA 6 6 7 22. Would you say that Barack Obama - has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 64 40 87 59 60 68 58 91 71 No 33 58 9 37 37 29 39 7 22 DK/NA 3 2 3 4 3 3 3 2 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 73 64 58 66 65 61 87 69 43 No 24 34 38 31 34 34 11 28 54 DK/NA 3 2 4 3 2 5 3 3 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 63 67 48 52 55 No 34 29 49 45 42 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 3 TREND: Would you say that Barack Obama has strong leadership qualities or not? Jan 13 Sep 09 Jan 13 2011 2010 2010 Yes 64 59 66 No 33 38 32 DK/NA 3 3 2 23. Would you say that Barack Obama - shares your views on issues that you care about or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 49 12 83 44 43 55 41 83 74 No 46 85 12 52 52 41 55 14 18 DK/NA 5 3 4 5 5 4 4 3 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 56 47 47 52 49 48 81 55 23 No 40 49 48 44 48 46 15 40 74 DK/NA 3 4 5 5 2 6 4 5 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 47 54 28 32 44 No 48 41 67 63 52 DK/NA 5 5 5 5 4 TREND: Would you say that Barack Obama - shares your views on issues that you care about or not? Jan 13 Jan 13 2011 2010 Yes 49 46 No 46 50 DK/NA 5 4 24. Would you say that in general the Obama administration has been competent in running the government, or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes, competent 52 18 86 44 48 55 45 85 67 No, not competent 45 80 11 51 50 40 53 11 23 DK/NA 4 2 3 4 2 5 3 4 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes, competent 58 50 49 54 55 49 82 55 29 No, not competent 39 47 46 42 42 50 14 42 69 DK/NA 2 3 5 4 2 1 4 3 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes, competent 49 58 31 36 45 No, not competent 47 39 66 61 53 DK/NA 4 3 3 3 3 41. Some people have suggested eliminating the filibuster procedure in the U.S. Senate so that all that would be needed to pass legislation would be a simple majority of votes, 51 out of 100. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Good idea 42 34 50 41 40 43 41 46 42 Bad idea 45 53 35 48 50 40 47 34 43 DK/NA 13 13 15 11 10 17 11 20 15 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Good idea 41 41 44 43 40 45 50 44 34 Bad idea 43 49 41 40 50 48 35 42 55 DK/NA 16 10 14 17 10 8 15 14 11 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Good idea 42 42 37 37 47 Bad idea 43 49 50 50 41 DK/NA 15 9 13 13 12 TREND: Some people have suggested eliminating the filibuster procedure in the U.S. Senate so that all that would be needed to pass legislation would be a simple majority of votes, 51 out of 100. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Jan 13 Mar 25 2011 2010 Good idea 42 39 Bad idea 45 51 DK/NA 13 10
