January 18, 2009 - New Yorkers Like Obama Almost 7-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Bush Goes Out With 3-1 Negative Score Word format On the eve of his historic inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama enjoys a 71 - 11 percent favorability rating among New York State voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Even Republicans give him a 42 - 31 percent favorability rating. These same voters disapprove 74 - 22 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing. Republican voters approve 53 - 41 percent, while Democrats disapprove 92 - 7 percent and independent voters disapprove 79 - 17 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe- ack) University poll finds. President Bush's highest approval in New York State was 82 - 15 percent on November 14, 2001, two months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. Obama's favorability in New York has ranged from a low of 44 - 9 percent in a February 14, 2007, Quinnipiac University poll to 74 - 12 percent December 24, 2008. Favorability measures people's feelings about someone, or likability. An approval rating measures how people feel about the job someone is doing. "New Yorkers gave Barack Obama their votes and - by a lot - they give him their vote of confidence as he gets ready to move into the White House," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "They didn't vote for President Bush and - except for a brief rally-around-the-flag moment after 9/11 - they never thought very much of him." From January 8 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,664 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 22% 53% 7% 17% 25% 19% 26% 6% Disapprove 74 41 92 79 72 76 70 90 DK/NA 4 6 2 4 3 4 4 4 UpState..... UpState AGE IN YEARS......... Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 28% 23% 24% 16% 26% 16% 26% 19% 26% Disapprove 66 72 71 82 69 80 71 77 69 DK/NA 5 5 5 1 5 4 2 3 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? (*also 82% on 10/2/01) APPROVE....... High Low Jan 18 Dec 23 Jun 11 Apr 18 Mar 21 Nov 14 Dec 23 2009 2008 2008 2008 2008 2001* 2008 Approve 22 18 20 22 21 82 18 Disapprove 74 78 76 73 74 15 76 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 9. Is your opinion of Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 71% 42% 91% 69% 67% 74% 66% 93% Unfavorable 11 31 1 7 12 10 14 1 Hvn't hrd enough 16 24 7 21 17 14 18 5 REFUSED 2 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 UpState..... UpState AGE IN YEARS......... Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favorable 67% 67% 67% 78% 70% 77% 72% 72% 66% Unfavorable 13 14 14 7 11 14 13 10 10 Hvn't hrd enough 18 17 17 13 17 7 14 17 19 REFUSED 2 3 3 2 2 3 1 1 5 TREND: Is your opinion of -- Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? FAVORABLE..... High Low Jan 18 Dec 24 Jun 11 Apr 18 Mar 21 Dec 24 Feb 14 2009 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 Favorable 71 74 55 50 56 74 44 Unfavorable 11 12 28 31 25 12 9 Hvn't hrd enough 16 11 14 18 17 11 46 REFUSED 2 2 3 1 2 2 1
