March 3, 2011 - Most U.S. Voters Like Obama, But Not His Policies, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Tax The 'rich' And Save NPR, Planned Parenthood Word format Three out of four American voters - 74 percent - like President Barack Obama, but a narrow majority disapproves of his policies, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. President Obama gets a split 46 - 46 percent job approval rating, little changed from his 48 - 44 percent score January 13, and voters split 45 - 47 percent on whether they think he deserves a second term in the Oval Office. Given four choices to describe their feelings about Obama, American voters say: 41 percent like him personally and like his policies; 33 percent like him personally, but don't like his policies; 1 percent like his policies, but don't like him; 19 percent don't like him or his policies. Voters disapprove 58 - 36 percent of the way Obama is handling the federal budget deficit, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. They say 51 - 10 percent that he will cut spending too little rather than too much, with 32 percent saying he'll cut the right amount, and 44 - 14 percent that he will raise taxes too much rather than too little, with 36 percent saying he'll get it right. By comparison, voters split 33 - 32 percent on whether congressional Republicans will cut spending too little or too much, with 29 percent saying they'll get it right, and by 33 - 25 percent they say GOP lawmakers will raise taxes too much rather than too little, as 36 percent say they'll get it right. "President Barack Obama is a charmer. The American people like him a great deal, but they aren't nearly as sold on his policies. This combination of personal appeal and skepticism about his policies explains why his overall approval numbers seem to be stuck in the middle," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "The question over the next two years will be whether personality or policies will prevail," Brown added. "Clearly the president is a good deal more popular personally than are his policies. It is not good for his rating that a majority of voters think he is likely to raise taxes too much and cut spending too little." American voters disapprove 57 - 33 percent of the job Democrats in Congress are doing and disapprove 54 - 34 percent of the job Republicans in Congress are doing. Voters split 45 - 45 percent on whether they trust Obama or congressional Republicans to handle the economy. By a slight 46 - 43 percent they trust Republicans more to handle the budget deficit. Voters trust Obama more on health care by a slight 46 - 43 percent margin. By an overwhelming 90 - 6 percent margin, voters say that middle-class Americans will have to make sacrifices to get the budget deficit under control. They say 66 - 25 percent that if a candidate they favor offers a deficit-cutting plan that would cost them $500 each they still would support the candidate. Voters also say 53 - 38 percent they would continue to support a candidate with a Social Security reform plan that put the retirement system on firm footing for 50 years even if it reduced their benefits. But voters oppose cuts in the growth of entitlement programs to reduce the budget deficit: 70 - 25 percent against cutting Social Security; 72 - 25 percent against cutting Medicare; 59 - 37 percent against cutting Medicaid. And voters split 46 - 48 percent on whether to cut defense spending to reduce the deficit. "Voters say they are willing to make sacrifices but they aren't willing to just cut the growth rate of Social Security and Medicare, which, to paraphrase Willie Sutton, is where the money is," said Brown. By 64 - 32 percent, voters say raising income taxes on those earning more than $250,000 should be part of any budget deal. By 49 - 40 percent, voters oppose cutting federal funding for National Public Radio and by 53 - 43 percent they oppose cutting it off for Planned Parenthood. From February 21 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,887 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 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 Approve 46% 8% 81% 43% 42% 51% 40% 92% Disapprove 46 84 12 48 51 40 51 4 DK/NA 8 8 7 9 7 9 8 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 57% 43% 44% 49% 45% 47% 80% 57% 19% Disapprove 34 51 48 44 46 45 13 34 74 DK/NA 9 7 8 7 9 7 7 9 7 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 50% 44% 52% 20% 31% 36% Disapprove 41 47 42 72 59 56 DK/NA 9 9 5 8 10 8 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 Mar 03 Jan 13 Nov 17 Sep 09 Mar 25 Jun 04 Nov 17 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009* 2010** Approve 46 48 44 44 45 59 44 Disapprove 46 44 49 47 46 31 49 DK/NA 8 8 6 9 9 10 6 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 33% 6% 65% 27% 30% 36% 28% 63% Disapprove 57 88 21 64 61 52 62 23 DK/NA 10 6 14 9 9 12 9 14 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 38% 32% 31% 35% 36% 30% 65% 39% 13% Disapprove 46 61 60 51 59 62 26 50 79 DK/NA 16 7 10 14 5 8 9 11 8 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 41% 32% 35% 16% 22% 23% Disapprove 52 56 58 76 69 65 DK/NA 7 12 7 7 9 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? PstHlth PreHlth APPROVE..... VtPoll VtPoll High Low Mar 03 Jan 18 Nov 17 Mar 25 Mar 25 Mar 04 Nov 17 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 33 33 27 36 30 45 27 Disapprove 57 58 66 55 62 45 66 DK/NA 10 9 7 9 8 10 7 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 34% 65% 13% 31% 39% 29% 37% 21% Disapprove 54 26 77 56 50 59 51 67 DK/NA 12 9 10 13 11 12 12 13 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 33% 36% 32% 31% 35% 39% 14% 27% 52% Disapprove 49 55 57 55 57 53 79 60 37 DK/NA 18 8 11 14 7 9 7 12 11 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 34% 34% 34% 45% 41% 41% Disapprove 57 53 58 43 47 46 DK/NA 10 13 8 12 12 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? (*High also 34 Mar 2010) PstHlth PreHlth APPROVE....... VtPoll VtPoll High Low Mar 03 Jan 18 Nov 17 Mar 25 Mar 25 Mar 03 Oct 08 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2011 2009 Approve 34 30 27 34 31 34 25 Disapprove 54 57 63 58 60 54 64 DK/NA 12 13 10 8 9 12 11 4. 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 Very satisfied 1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% Smwht satisfied 26 9 44 21 24 28 21 49 Smwht dissatisfied 32 29 34 34 30 34 33 37 Very dissatisfied 40 60 20 43 43 36 44 12 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Very satisfied 1% 1% 2% 2% 0% 2% 1% 2% 1% Smwht satisfied 41 24 20 26 24 30 42 32 12 Smwht dissatisfied 34 32 31 33 30 32 38 34 29 Very dissatisfied 24 42 46 38 46 35 19 32 57 DK/NA - - 1 1 - - 1 - 1 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Very satisfied - 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% Smwht satisfied 32 25 28 12 18 18 Smwht dissatisfied 31 31 35 31 32 34 Very dissatisfied 37 41 36 55 49 47 DK/NA 1 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 Mar 03 Jan 18 Nov 17 Sep 09 Jul 21 Dec 11 Nov 13 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2001 2008 Very satisfied 1 2 3 2 3 21 2 Smwht satisfied 26 25 24 23 24 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 32 38 29 31 29 19 38 Very dissatisfied 40 34 42 42 42 10 44 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 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 Person/Policies 41% 7% 76% 36% 37% 45% 35% 87% Person/Not policies 33 44 20 36 36 30 36 9 Policies/Not person 1 2 - 2 1 2 1 - Not Pol/Not person 19 41 1 19 21 17 21 3 DK/NA 5 7 2 6 5 6 6 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Person/Policies 50% 37% 40% 43% 41% 42% 77% 52% 12% Person/Not policies 26 39 31 32 36 32 13 31 46 Policies/Not person 3 - 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 Not Pol/Not person 16 18 22 19 18 17 2 12 35 DK/NA 3 6 5 5 4 6 6 4 6 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Person/Policies 45% 39% 47% 16% 30% 30% Person/Not policies 31 35 28 46 39 42 Policies/Not person 2 1 3 1 1 1 Not Pol/Not person 16 19 18 30 25 21 DK/NA 6 6 4 6 5 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? Mar 03 Jan 13 Nov 19 2011 2011 2009 Person/Policies 41 44 46 Person/Not policies 33 29 28 Policies/Not person 1 2 1 Not pol/Not person 19 19 20 DK/NA 5 7 5 7. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President, do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes/Deserves 45% 8% 82% 42% 40% 51% 38% 91% No/Does not 47 86 13 50 53 43 55 3 DK/NA 7 6 5 8 8 7 7 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes/Deserves 56% 40% 44% 48% 43% 48% 82% 54% 18% No/Does not 33 54 51 44 50 47 12 37 76 DK/NA 11 6 6 8 7 5 6 9 6 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes/Deserves 49% 43% 51% 20% 29% 34% No/Does not 43 49 44 75 63 61 DK/NA 8 8 5 5 8 6 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President, do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Mar 03 Nov 22 Jul 21 Mar 25 2011 2010 2010 2010 Yes/deserves 45 43 40 40 No/does not 47 49 48 48 DK/NA 7 9 12 11 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the budget deficit? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 36% 9% 68% 29% 32% 40% 29% 81% Disapprove 58 88 25 66 62 55 66 14 DK/NA 6 4 7 5 6 5 5 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 41% 33% 36% 39% 35% 37% 64% 44% 15% Disapprove 48 64 59 55 63 57 27 51 82 DK/NA 11 3 5 6 2 6 9 5 2 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 39% 34% 41% 15% 22% 26% Disapprove 56 60 54 81 73 70 DK/NA 5 6 5 4 5 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the budget deficit? Mar 03 Apr 21 Feb 11 2011 2010 2010 Approve 36 34 33 Disapprove 58 59 60 DK/NA 6 7 7 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 38% 6% 70% 34% 34% 41% 32% 73% Disapprove 59 92 25 64 62 55 65 24 DK/NA 4 2 5 2 3 4 3 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 43% 34% 39% 39% 37% 42% 70% 48% 13% Disapprove 52 64 58 56 61 55 23 50 85 DK/NA 5 2 4 4 2 3 6 2 2 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 39% 35% 45% 18% 25% 29% Disapprove 61 61 51 79 71 69 DK/NA 1 4 4 3 4 2 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? APPROVE...... High Low Mar 03 Jan 18 Nov 17 Sep 09 Jul 21 Mar 04 Mar 03 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2011 Approve 38 40 39 39 39 57 38 Disapprove 59 53 57 56 56 33 59 DK/NA 4 7 4 5 5 10 4 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 43% 14% 69% 42% 40% 46% 39% 69% Disapprove 45 76 16 49 51 40 50 17 DK/NA 12 10 15 9 9 14 11 14 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 43% 41% 44% 45% 41% 49% 74% 53% 20% Disapprove 39 49 46 42 52 42 16 38 68 DK/NA 17 10 9 13 7 9 9 9 11 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 43% 40% 52% 24% 33% 41% Disapprove 45 47 42 65 58 47 DK/NA 12 14 6 11 9 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy? (* Low also 43% Jul 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Mar 03 Jan 13 Nov 18 Sep 09 Jul 21 Apr 29 Mar 03 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2011 Approve 43 47 46 45 43 57 43 Disapprove 45 38 44 44 46 32 45 DK/NA 12 15 10 11 12 11 12 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - health care? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 40% 5% 74% 34% 36% 43% 33% 85% Disapprove 56 90 22 62 60 52 63 13 DK/NA 4 5 4 4 3 5 4 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 49% 35% 39% 40% 39% 41% 72% 48% 15% Disapprove 45 62 57 55 58 55 23 46 83 DK/NA 6 3 4 4 3 4 5 5 2 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 45% 37% 47% 13% 26% 28% Disapprove 52 59 49 83 70 69 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 5 3 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care? (*Low also 35% Jan 2010) PostVt PreVt APPROVE....... Poll Poll High Low Mar 03 Jan 18 May 26 Mar 25 Mar 25 July 02 Feb 11* 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 40 44 44 44 36 46 35 Disapprove 56 51 51 50 58 42 58 DK/NA 4 5 6 6 6 13 6 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Afghanistan? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 43% 30% 55% 41% 46% 40% 39% 61% Disapprove 46 58 35 50 45 48 52 25 DK/NA 11 12 11 9 9 12 10 14 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 44% 40% 43% 43% 41% 48% 48% 52% 32% Disapprove 43 51 45 45 52 44 42 38 57 DK/NA 12 9 12 12 8 8 10 10 11 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 50% 40% 49% 29% 35% 41% Disapprove 41 47 44 59 55 50 DK/NA 9 12 7 12 10 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 03 Jan 18 Sep 09 Jul 21 May 26 Mar 25 Nov 18 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 Approve 43 46 49 43 45 52 38 Disapprove 46 40 40 46 40 36 49 DK/NA 11 14 10 11 14 12 12 13. 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 Obama 45% 6% 85% 39% 38% 51% 37% 86% Republicans 45 88 10 47 51 40 53 6 DK/NA 10 6 5 13 11 9 10 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Obama 55% 39% 43% 47% 44% 44% 81% 55% 15% Republicans 32 52 47 42 45 50 12 35 74 DK/NA 13 8 10 11 12 6 7 10 11 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Obama 51% 42% 50% 18% 27% 32% Republicans 38 47 42 73 61 60 DK/NA 12 11 8 9 12 8 TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Mar 03 Jan 18 Nov 17 Jul 22 May 26 Dec 22 Aug 06 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2009 President Obama 45 46 42 41 45 45 47 Reps in Congress 45 39 45 42 36 36 36 DK/NA 10 14 14 17 19 19 17 14. Who do you trust to do a better job handling the budget deficit, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 43% 4% 85% 36% 34% 51% 36% 86% Republicans 46 89 10 48 55 38 52 4 DK/NA 11 7 6 16 12 11 12 10 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Obama 53% 37% 42% 46% 43% 40% 77% 52% 16% Republicans 36 53 46 42 47 50 12 37 73 DK/NA 11 10 13 12 10 10 11 11 11 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Obama 49% 41% 47% 19% 26% 32% Republicans 41 47 42 70 61 59 DK/NA 10 12 11 12 13 10 15. Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 46% 7% 85% 41% 40% 52% 39% 85% Republicans 43 87 9 42 48 37 49 6 DK/NA 12 7 6 16 12 12 12 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Obama 58% 41% 44% 48% 45% 45% 83% 55% 18% Republicans 31 49 44 39 44 47 9 32 71 DK/NA 11 11 12 13 11 8 9 13 11 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Obama 51% 44% 51% 17% 30% 35% Republicans 40 44 40 67 57 54 DK/NA 8 12 9 16 14 11 TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? (*Low also 42% Jan 2010 & Mar 2010)) PostVt PreVt BETTER PRES... Poll Poll High Low Mar 03 Nov 17 Apr 21 Mar 25 Mar 25 Jul 1 Apr 21 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 President Obama 46 44 42 45 42 53 42 Reps in Congress 43 45 39 35 42 33 39 DK/NA 12 10 19 20 16 14 19 16. How serious a problem do you think the federal budget deficit is; very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious or not at all serious? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very serious 79% 90% 71% 79% 77% 82% 80% 77% Smwht serious 17 8 24 17 19 15 17 22 Not too serious 2 1 5 2 3 2 2 - No at all serious 1 - 1 1 2 - 1 - DK/NA - 1 - - - - - - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Very serious 69% 84% 82% 79% 84% 76% 63% 77% 91% Smwht serious 25 12 16 19 13 18 27 20 8 Not too serious 4 2 2 2 3 4 7 2 1 No at all serious 2 1 - 1 1 2 2 1 - DK/NA - 1 - - - 1 1 - - EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Very serious 77% 83% 72% 90% 86% 83% Smwht serious 21 15 21 8 13 14 Not too serious 2 2 5 1 1 3 No at all serious 1 - 3 1 - - DK/NA - - - - - - TREND: How serious a problem do you think the federal budget deficit is, very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious or not at all serious? Mar 03 Feb 02 Feb 04 2011 2004 2003 Very serious 79 54 44 Smwht serious 17 34 42 Not too serious 2 8 9 No at all serious 1 3 2 DK/NA - 1 3 17. Do you believe middle-class Americans will or will not have to make financial sacrifices to decrease the federal budget deficit? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will 90% 93% 86% 92% 88% 91% 91% 80% Will Not 6 4 9 6 7 6 6 13 DK/NA 4 3 5 2 4 3 3 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will 90% 89% 92% 87% 93% 94% 85% 93% 92% Will Not 8 7 5 8 5 4 12 6 4 DK/NA 2 3 3 5 2 2 3 1 4 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Will 89% 90% 90% 92% 92% 93% Will Not 8 6 8 5 5 5 DK/NA 3 4 2 3 3 2 TREND: Do you believe middle-class Americans will or will not have to make financial sacrifices to decrease the federal budget deficit? Mar 03 Mar 29 2011 2010 Will 90 84 Will not 6 11 DK/NA 4 5 18. Do you think - raising income taxes on households making more than $250,000 should or should not be a main part of any government approach to the deficit? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Should 64% 42% 81% 67% 58% 69% 62% 71% Should Not 32 53 17 29 38 27 34 23 DK/NA 4 6 3 4 4 4 4 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Should 62% 62% 66% 69% 66% 57% 88% 73% 44% Should Not 34 35 29 27 30 41 12 25 49 DK/NA 4 3 6 5 4 2 - 2 7 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Should 68% 63% 65% 52% 57% 65% Should Not 29 32 34 43 40 31 DK/NA 4 5 2 6 4 4 TREND: Do you think raising income taxes on households making more than $250,000 should or should not be a main part of any government approach to the deficit? Mar 03 Mar 29 2011 2010 Should 64 60 Should not 32 38 DK/NA 4 2 19. Do you think - cutting the growth of spending on Social Security benefits should or should not be a main part of any government approach to the deficit? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Should 25% 31% 14% 29% 33% 18% 27% 18% Should Not 70 64 82 65 62 77 68 78 DK/NA 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Should 28% 27% 21% 19% 26% 39% 16% 23% 33% Should Not 68 67 75 75 71 56 79 74 61 DK/NA 4 6 4 5 4 4 5 3 6 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Should 21% 21% 36% 25% 29% 22% Should Not 75 74 59 70 65 73 DK/NA 4 5 5 5 6 5 TREND: Do you think cutting the growth of spending on Social Security benefits should or should not be a main part of any government approach to the deficit? Mar 03 Mar 29 2011 2010 Should 25 19 Should not 70 77 DK/NA 5 4 20. Do you think - cutting the growth of spending on Medicare benefits, which is the government program which pays for health care for the elderly should or should not be a main part of any government approach to the deficit? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Should 25% 32% 15% 30% 32% 18% 25% 24% Should Not 72 66 82 67 65 79 72 73 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Should 26% 26% 22% 22% 21% 36% 15% 22% 33% Should Not 72 71 73 75 76 61 83 75 64 DK/NA 1 3 4 3 3 3 2 3 3 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Should 21% 21% 33% 26% 28% 20% Should Not 76 75 64 73 69 77 DK/NA 3 3 3 2 3 2 21. Do you think - cutting the growth of spending on Medicaid benefits, which is the government program which pays for health care for low income people, should or should not be a main part of any government approach to the deficit? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Should 37% 49% 23% 40% 44% 30% 39% 24% Should Not 59 46 75 56 51 67 57 69 DK/NA 4 6 2 4 5 3 4 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Should 38% 40% 32% 30% 43% 47% 22% 33% 50% Should Not 60 56 63 65 54 50 75 64 46 DK/NA 2 4 5 5 4 2 3 4 4 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Should 34% 35% 41% 44% 43% 37% Should Not 63 61 56 53 53 57 DK/NA 3 4 3 4 4 6 22. Do you think - cutting defense should or should not be a main part of any government approach to the deficit? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Should 46% 30% 58% 51% 47% 45% 46% 53% Should Not 48 64 38 45 48 48 48 43 DK/NA 6 7 3 5 5 7 6 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Should 52% 45% 44% 42% 45% 61% 67% 50% 35% Should Not 43 51 49 50 54 36 28 46 58 DK/NA 5 4 7 8 2 3 5 4 7 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Should 45% 40% 60% 29% 40% 47% Should Not 51 53 37 64 54 48 DK/NA 4 7 3 7 6 5 23. If you had to choose, which do you think should be cut the most - Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Medicare 7% 10% 2% 7% 10% 5% 7% 2% Medicaid 22 37 14 19 19 25 24 11 Social Security 8 12 4 9 12 4 8 3 Defense 49 25 68 51 47 50 46 65 DK/NA 14 16 11 15 12 17 14 19 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Medicare 12% 7% 6% 7% 7% 10% 5% 8% 8% Medicaid 21 22 23 21 26 21 8 21 30 Social Security 8 11 4 6 7 11 3 6 13 Defense 54 46 48 49 47 51 76 52 32 DK/NA 6 14 19 16 13 7 8 12 17 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Medicare 7% 7% 7% 10% 7% 6% Medicaid 22 23 19 33 28 24 Social Security 8 7 9 9 9 8 Defense 52 46 54 32 41 46 DK/NA 11 16 10 16 14 16 24. If you had to choose, which do you think should be cut the least - Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Medicare 20% 12% 26% 21% 19% 22% 21% 14% Medicaid 14 9 15 14 14 13 13 17 Social Security 36 31 43 39 36 37 36 39 Defense 23 41 9 21 27 20 24 21 DK/NA 6 7 7 5 4 8 6 10 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Medicare 27% 20% 15% 18% 21% 21% 25% 24% 15% Medicaid 17 12 14 16 12 13 21 13 10 Social Security 29 36 43 35 40 38 42 39 31 Defense 25 27 19 22 23 24 5 19 37 DK/NA 2 5 10 9 4 4 7 4 7 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Medicare 20% 20% 22% 18% 17% 22% Medicaid 14 13 16 9 12 10 Social Security 40 37 35 33 34 41 Defense 24 23 24 32 30 22 DK/NA 2 7 4 8 7 5 25. In order to help reduce the budget deficit, do you think President Obama would cut government spending too much, too little, or by about the right amount? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too much 10% 11% 13% 8% 7% 13% 9% 7% Too little 51 71 27 58 55 47 58 15 Right amount 32 10 54 26 30 33 25 76 DK/NA 7 8 6 7 7 8 7 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Too much 15% 9% 9% 12% 8% 7% 12% 12% 8% Too little 44 58 47 42 59 66 29 45 69 Right amount 38 26 33 37 29 24 54 37 15 DK/NA 3 8 10 9 5 4 4 6 8 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Too much 13% 12% 7% 11% 10% 10% Too little 51 48 56 67 61 61 Right amount 30 31 33 17 22 25 DK/NA 7 9 4 6 8 5 26. In order to help reduce the budget deficit, do you think Republicans in Congress would cut government spending too much, too little, or by about the right amount? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too much 32% 13% 54% 30% 30% 34% 30% 46% Too little 33 33 31 34 33 32 33 32 Right amount 29 50 11 30 31 27 31 20 DK/NA 6 4 5 6 5 6 6 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Too much 39% 28% 34% 35% 34% 30% 58% 39% 14% Too little 27 40 28 27 40 36 25 32 38 Right amount 30 27 30 30 21 34 15 24 41 DK/NA 4 5 9 8 5 1 2 5 7 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Too much 40% 31% 36% 16% 24% 26% Too little 35 31 38 38 36 31 Right amount 20 31 24 40 34 38 DK/NA 5 7 2 7 6 5 27. In order to help reduce the budget deficit, do you think President Obama would increase taxes too much, too little, or by about the right amount? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too much 44% 73% 20% 44% 46% 42% 49% 16% Too little 14 9 18 15 15 14 13 14 Right amount 36 14 58 35 34 39 32 68 DK/NA 5 4 4 7 5 5 6 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Too much 44% 50% 39% 40% 46% 46% 18% 36% 65% Too little 19 14 12 13 14 17 22 17 8 Right amount 34 31 43 41 36 33 56 43 21 DK/NA 4 4 7 6 4 3 4 4 6 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Too much 37% 46% 40% 65% 54% 49% Too little 19 13 19 10 10 14 Right amount 39 36 38 21 31 31 DK/NA 5 6 3 4 5 5 28. In order to help reduce the budget deficit, do you think Republicans in Congress would increase taxes too much, too little, or by about the right amount? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too much 33% 18% 46% 30% 29% 36% 27% 60% Too little 25 9 36 28 24 25 27 18 Right amount 36 67 13 34 39 33 39 19 DK/NA 7 5 5 8 7 6 7 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Too much 38% 32% 29% 39% 31% 16% 40% 37% 23% Too little 26 23 26 20 27 41 43 30 12 Right amount 32 38 38 35 34 41 13 27 57 DK/NA 4 7 7 6 7 3 4 6 8 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Too much 38% 36% 24% 26% 27% 25% Too little 27 19 39 16 22 29 Right amount 28 38 32 52 44 40 DK/NA 7 7 5 6 7 6 29. Do you support or oppose cutting off federal government funding to NPR, National Public Radio? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 40% 54% 27% 40% 44% 37% 42% 35% Oppose 49 33 62 50 47 50 47 57 DK/NA 11 13 11 9 9 13 11 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 33% 42% 44% 39% 43% 39% 20% 34% 57% Oppose 59 47 44 49 48 54 72 57 31 DK/NA 8 11 12 12 9 7 8 9 11 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Support 36% 42% 37% 49% 45% 50% Oppose 53 46 56 38 41 42 DK/NA 11 12 7 12 14 8 30. Do you support or oppose cutting off federal government funding to Planned Parenthood? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 43% 65% 19% 47% 49% 37% 46% 23% Oppose 53 30 77 50 46 59 51 68 DK/NA 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 31% 47% 46% 41% 41% 47% 13% 37% 64% Oppose 66 50 46 53 58 52 86 60 29 DK/NA 3 3 8 7 2 1 1 3 7 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Support 40% 44% 39% 61% 51% 48% Oppose 58 50 60 34 44 49 DK/NA 2 6 2 5 5 2 31. If a candidate for president who you favored, supported solving the nation's deficit problem in a way that would cost you personally $500 or more, would you still vote for that candidate or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 66% 65% 64% 69% 72% 60% 68% 55% No 25 27 27 21 21 29 23 38 DK/NA 9 8 9 10 7 11 9 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 62% 68% 67% 56% 76% 84% 78% 65% 65% No 31 23 24 34 18 9 15 27 26 DK/NA 7 9 9 10 6 7 7 8 9 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 70% 60% 82% 61% 66% 75% No 23 30 12 30 25 20 DK/NA 8 10 6 9 8 6 32. If a candidate for president, who you favored, supported putting social security on firm financial footing for 50 years but would require that your eventual benefits would be reduced in order to do so, would you still vote for that candidate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 53% 59% 49% 52% 58% 48% 55% 53% No 38 32 41 39 33 42 35 42 DK/NA 9 8 10 9 9 10 10 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 52% 60% 47% 43% 61% 71% 53% 51% 58% No 40 31 44 48 29 23 36 41 33 DK/NA 8 9 9 10 9 6 11 8 10 EDUCATION.... WHITE............. Union NoColl Coll BrnAgn HsHlds Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 58% 48% 66% 56% 56% 50% No 31 42 25 35 34 37 DK/NA 11 10 9 9 10 13
