National (US) Poll * April 29, 2009 * Big Catholic-Protestant Split - Quinnipiac University

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April 29, 2009 - Big Catholic-Protestant Split In Obama Approval, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Millions Of Whites Who Didn't Vote For Him Now Back Him

Word format One hundred days in office, President Barack Obama wins a 58 - 30 percent job approval rating from American voters, including 53 - 35 percent among white voters, millions more than voted for him in November, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
There is a big religious split as white Catholics approve of the President 57 - 33 percent while white Protestants split 44 - 42 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll of 2,041 registered voters nationwide finds. Jews back Obama 76 - 12 percent.
President Obama wins 90 - 4 percent approval from Democrats and 53 - 33 percent approval from independent voters, while Republicans disapprove 59 - 26 percent. Black voters approve 93 - 1 percent. There is a 10-point gender gap, as women approve 63 - 25 percent while men approve 53 - 35 percent. Voters 18 to 34 years old approve 69 - 23 percent, 13 to 14 points higher than older voters. There is an eight-point variance among income groups, ranging from 63 - 23 percent among those earning less than $50,000 to 55 - 35 percent among those making $50,000 to $100,000.
"President Obama's numbers are better than many of his recent predecessors at this point in his term, but his coalition is somewhat different than theirs. His bare majority support among the three-quarters of the electorate who are white is balanced by his extraordinary support among the one-quarter of the electorate who are non-white," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Obama's numbers among whites are high for a Democrat. No Democrat has carried a majority of white votes since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Obama's 53 percent approval rating among whites means there are millions who did not support him on Election Day, when he received just 43 percent of the white vote, who like what he is doing in office today."
"The President's relatively lower standing among white voters is driven to some degree by his negative 36 - 49 percent rating among those who identify themselves as evangelical Christians, 58 percent of all Protestants and a Republican-leaning group among whom his approval has dropped more than 10 points in the past two months," Brown added. "Crucial to Obama's coalition is that he enjoys a 57 percent approval rating among white Catholics, perhaps the single most important swing group in the American electorate."
Obama's overall level of public support is slightly lower, 53 - 38 percent, when voters are asked if they approve of the way he is handling the economy, with the drop-off from his overall job approval reduced by about the same amount across most of the demographic groups. Americans are slightly more positive, 57 - 32 percent, about his handling of foreign policy.
By a large 59 - 27 percent margin American voters disapprove of the way Republicans in Congress are doing their job. Voters also disapprove 46 - 43 percent of the way Democrats in Congress are doing their job.
Voters trust Obama 54 - 27 percent more than Congressional Republicans to fix the economy.
If the 2010 Congressional elections were held today, 41 percent of voters would vote for a Democratic candidate in their district, while 34 percent would vote for a Republican, with 22 percent undecided. White voters favor Republicans by a narrow 38 - 35 percent margin.
"The American people's faith in Obama as the new President who can lead the country out of these tough times is perhaps best reflected in the fact that twice as many Americans trust him to handle the economy as they do the Republicans in Congress," said Brown. "The Republican brand overall remains in the public opinion basement."
From April 21 - 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,041 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, or call (203) 582-5201.
1. If the 2010 election for 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 34% 81% 2% 31% 38% 30% 38% 9% 24% Democrat 41 3 87 29 37 45 35 77 53 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 3 2 1 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 1 1 2 - - DK/NA 22 16 10 35 21 23 24 12 23 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Republican 30% 36% 35% 28% 39% 42% Democrat 51 39 38 47 36 39 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 2 2 1 1 0 DK/NA 18 21 24 23 23 17 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Republican 77% 2% 24% 33% 35% 53% 47% 39% 14% Democrat 3 84 37 42 40 22 27 34 58 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 4 1 1 1 1 2 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 - DK/NA 19 13 33 22 23 22 24 24 28
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 58% 26% 90% 53% 53% 63% 53% 93% 67% Disapprove 30 59 4 33 35 25 35 1 18 DK/NA 12 15 6 14 12 12 13 6 15 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Approve 69% 56% 55% 63% 55% 59% Disapprove 23 31 32 23 35 33 DK/NA 8 14 13 14 11 7 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 19% 95% 83% 57% 61% 36% 44% 57% 76% Disapprove 66 1 7 30 29 49 42 33 12 DK/NA 15 4 10 13 10 14 14 10 12
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
Apr 29 Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 2009 Approve 58 58 59 Disapprove 30 31 25 DK/NA 12 11 16
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 43% 16% 77% 33% 40% 46% 37% 73% 65% Disapprove 46 75 12 55 53 39 52 14 22 DK/NA 11 9 11 12 7 15 11 13 13 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Approve 57% 42% 37% 48% 42% 41% Disapprove 33 48 51 39 50 52 DK/NA 10 10 13 14 8 7 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 10% 77% 51% 42% 45% 25% 32% 39% 62% Disapprove 83 12 36 45 46 65 57 52 26 DK/NA 7 10 13 12 9 11 11 9 13
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?
Apr 29 Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 2009 Approve 43 40 45 Disapprove 46 49 45 DK/NA 11 11 10
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 27% 40% 20% 24% 26% 27% 27% 22% 23% Disapprove 59 48 66 61 63 56 60 63 56 DK/NA 14 12 14 15 11 17 14 15 21 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Approve 30% 29% 22% 29% 27% 25% Disapprove 57 57 63 56 60 66 DK/NA 13 14 15 15 13 9 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 35% 18% 29% 28% 25% 32% 29% 26% 23% Disapprove 54 71 54 57 65 53 56 63 58 DK/NA 11 11 17 16 11 15 15 11 20
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?
Apr 29 Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 2009 Approve 27 30 30 Disapprove 59 59 58 DK/NA 14 11 11
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 53% 22% 84% 49% 47% 59% 48% 92% 66% Disapprove 38 70 9 42 43 33 43 2 25 DK/NA 9 9 7 9 10 8 9 7 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Approve 56% 53% 52% 57% 49% 53% Disapprove 34 39 38 32 43 39 DK/NA 10 8 10 10 8 7 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 17% 87% 80% 53% 53% 35% 40% 53% 69% Disapprove 76 6 12 37 40 56 51 41 15 DK/NA 7 7 8 10 7 9 9 5 16
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
Apr 29 Apr 01 Mar 04 2009 2009 2009 Approve 53 55 57 Disapprove 38 37 33 DK/NA 9 8 10
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 57% 27% 84% 55% 53% 60% 52% 85% 64% Disapprove 32 61 7 36 36 29 36 6 29 DK/NA 11 12 9 10 11 11 11 9 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Approve 63% 56% 54% 59% 55% 59% Disapprove 28 33 35 29 37 34 DK/NA 9 11 11 13 9 6 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Approve 19% 91% 83% 54% 62% 36% 46% 55% 82% Disapprove 70 3 8 33 31 52 42 38 11 DK/NA 11 6 9 13 7 13 12 8 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Apr 29 Apr 01 Mar 05 2009 2009 2009 Approve 57 56 56 Disapprove 32 25 21 DK/NA 11 19 23
7. 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 6% 1% 11% 3% 5% 6% 4% 14% 9% Smwht satisfied 30 17 45 27 28 32 28 48 36 Smwht dissatisfied 29 31 27 31 28 30 31 27 24 Very dissatisfied 34 50 15 38 37 31 37 10 28 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Very satisfied 7% 4% 6% 6% 4% 5% Smwht satisfied 35 28 29 34 26 29 Smwht dissatisfied 33 29 28 28 31 33 Very dissatisfied 25 36 35 31 37 32 DK/NA - 2 2 1 1 1 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Very satisfied - 10% 12% 5% 6% 3% 4% 3% 1% Smwht satisfied 12 49 41 29 33 19 25 29 37 Smwht dissatisfied 30 26 31 28 33 30 30 31 25 Very dissatisfied 57 12 15 37 27 47 39 36 36 DK/NA - 2 1 1 1 1 1 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 Apr 29 Apr 01 Nov 13 May 15 Nov 22 Dec 11 Nov 13 2009 2009 2008 2008 2006 2001 2008 Very satisfied 6 4 2 2 5 21 2 Smwht satisfied 30 26 14 15 32 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 29 31 38 37 33 19 38 Very dissatisfied 34 37 44 45 28 10 44 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 3 2
8. Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable 58% 25% 90% 54% 54% 61% 52% 96% 67% Unfavorable 27 57 5 27 31 24 32 1 15 Hvn't hrd enough 11 14 6 15 11 12 13 1 12 REFUSED 3 4 - 4 4 3 3 3 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Favorable 64% 59% 54% 61% 56% 60% Unfavorable 22 29 29 22 31 33 Hvn't hrd enough 12 9 13 13 10 6 REFUSED 2 3 4 4 3 - PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Favorable 17% 96% 86% 56% 62% 35% 44% 55% 82% Unfavorable 63 1 6 27 27 48 40 29 10 Hvn't hrd enough 16 2 6 13 8 14 14 12 8 REFUSED 4 1 3 3 3 2 3 4 -
TREND: Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
High Low Apr 29 Apr 01 Nov 12 May 14 Oct 31 Nov 12 Feb 21 2009 2009 2008 2008 2007 2008 2007 Favorable 58 59 67 49 50 67 44 Unfavorable 27 26 19 33 26 19 14 Hvn't hrd enough 11 13 11 15 21 11 40 REFUSED 3 2 3 3 2 3 1
9. Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable 43% 13% 80% 32% 38% 47% 37% 75% 54% Unfavorable 41 73 8 46 49 34 46 10 22 Hvn't hrd enough 13 12 9 17 10 16 13 13 17 REFUSED 3 2 2 4 4 3 3 3 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Favorable 49% 43% 39% 45% 41% 45% Unfavorable 29 44 44 34 46 47 Hvn't hrd enough 18 10 13 18 9 6 REFUSED 3 4 3 4 3 3 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Favorable 9% 85% 52% 41% 48% 23% 30% 44% 71% Unfavorable 80 7 27 40 43 59 53 46 21 Hvn't hrd enough 9 6 17 16 6 14 13 7 4 REFUSED 2 2 4 3 4 3 4 4 3
TREND: Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Apr 29 Apr 01 Nov 12 2009 2009 2008 Favorable 43 41 55 Unfavorable 41 42 35 Hvn't hrd enough 13 13 6 REFUSED 3 3 4
10. Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Favorable 27% 58% 11% 21% 27% 26% 29% 15% 21% Unfavorable 51 25 66 55 57 47 51 57 46 Hvn't hrd enough 17 12 19 19 12 21 16 25 23 REFUSED 5 5 4 5 4 5 5 3 10 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Favorable 25% 30% 24% 25% 30% 30% Unfavorable 49 51 54 49 53 57 Hvn't hrd enough 24 14 17 22 13 9 REFUSED 2 5 5 4 4 3 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Favorable 51% 9% 26% 26% 27% 37% 33% 29% 19% Unfavorable 33 76 52 47 61 41 47 53 62 Hvn't hrd enough 11 12 18 21 8 17 15 14 17 REFUSED 5 3 3 5 4 5 6 4 2
TREND: Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it?
Apr 29 Apr 01 Nov 12 2009 2009 2008 Favorable 27 27 36 Unfavorable 51 52 52 Hvn't hrd enough 17 17 7 REFUSED 5 4 5
11. 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% - - - - - - - Good 6 4 9 6 7 5 4 19 11 Not so good 41 36 47 38 37 44 39 54 39 Poor 52 60 43 57 54 50 56 27 50 DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Excellent 1% - - - - 1% Good 9 5 6 8 4 4 Not so good 47 38 41 39 43 40 Poor 44 58 52 53 53 55 DK/NA - - 1 - - - PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Excellent - 1% - - 1% - - - - Good 4 7 9 7 4 5 5 3 3 Not so good 33 46 49 39 45 35 40 40 46 Poor 63 46 41 53 50 59 55 57 51 DK/NA - - - 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 Apr 29 Apr 01 Mar 04 Nov 13 May 15 Dec 10 Mar 04 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2003 2009 Excellent - 1 - - 1 3 - Good 6 4 3 4 12 37 3 Not so good 41 39 28 37 44 42 28 Poor 52 56 68 58 43 16 68 DK/NA 1 - - 1 - 1 -
12. 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 24% 14% 36% 20% 25% 22% 21% 35% 28% Worse 33 47 18 37 33 33 36 14 20 The same 42 39 44 41 41 43 41 49 52 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Better 27% 22% 24% 20% 25% 28% Worse 30 34 32 32 34 30 The same 41 42 42 47 40 41 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 2 1 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Better 13% 39% 32% 20% 31% 16% 19% 22% 34% Worse 47 15 19 36 25 44 39 34 29 The same 39 45 46 42 42 39 40 43 24 DK/NA 1 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 12
TREND: Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Apr 29 Apr 01 2009 2009 Better 24 19 Worse 33 32 The same 42 47 DK/NA 2 2
13. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Excellent 8% 8% 7% 7% 10% 5% 8% 4% 7% Good 49 52 46 50 51 47 51 40 43 Not so good 28 28 27 30 27 30 27 36 30 Poor 14 11 18 12 11 16 13 19 20 DK/NA 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Excellent 9% 8% 6% 4% 7% 19% Good 45 52 48 38 60 58 Not so good 32 24 31 34 26 19 Poor 13 16 13 23 7 4 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 1 PRES VOTE.......... WHITE............. Bush/ Kerry/ Bush/ NoColl Coll BrnAgn McCain Obama Obama Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Jew Excellent 9% 9% 6% 6% 11% 7% 7% 6% 14% Good 55 50 56 43 61 51 52 56 38 Not so good 25 29 25 32 21 26 27 21 41 Poor 9 12 12 18 6 13 12 15 7 DK/NA 2 1 - 1 1 2 2 1 -
TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Apr 29 Apr 01 2009 2009 Excellent 8 6 Good 49 47 Not so good 28 31 Poor 14 14 DK/NA 1 1