National (US) Poll * January 13, 2010 * Obama's Approval Splits Evenly - Quinnipiac University

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January 13, 2010 - Obama's Approval Splits Evenly For First Time, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Split On Whether First Year Is Success Or Failure

Word format American voters are split 45 - 45 percent on whether Barack Obama's first year in office is a success or failure and split 35 - 37 percent on whether the U.S. would be better off if John McCain had won the 2008 election, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released today. As he marks the first anniversary of his inauguration, President Obama's approval has slipped slightly into an even 45 - 45 percent split for the first time.
By a 43 - 30 percent margin American voters think Obama has been a better President than George W. Bush, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. Voters blame Bush more than Obama 55 - 20 percent for the current economic conditions, but they say 35 - 24 percent that Obama's policies have made the United States less safe than those of his predecessor. Another 38 percent say safety is about the same.
Looking at his characteristics, voters say:
56 - 37 percent that he is honest and trustworthy; 66 - 32 percent that he is a strong leader; 50 - 46 percent that Obama does not share their views on the issues they care about; 53 - 43 percent he is being fiscally irresponsible in his spending of federal money.
"President Barack Obama's approval rating is dead even for the first time, which is more of a symbolic low than any large movement in public opinion against him," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "When asked to compare, voters give Obama a higher rating than George W. Bush, but that's not much to write home about since Bush's approval at one point was among the lowest of any president in history.
"President Obama's report card from the American people on his first year in office is a mixed one. He gets better grades on his personal qualities than his policies and compared to his predecessor he is viewed more favorably on the economy than on national security."
"His split verdict from voters on whether he is a failure or a success pretty much sums up divisions among the American people, divisions that are perhaps magnified when the subject is Obama," Brown added. "But it is important to understand that this overall split masks deeper divisions that fall across gender, racial and age lines."
By a 47 - 40 percent margin, independent voters rate Obama's first year in office as mainly a failure; 81 percent of Democrats say it's a success and 75 percent of Republicans say it's a failure. Men say failure 50 - 40 percent, while women say success 49 - 40 percent. White voters say failure 54 - 37 percent, while black voters say success 82 - 7 percent.
Obama's job approval is only slightly lower than his 46 - 43 percent rating in Quinnipiac University's December 23 survey. But it continues a gradual but consistent downward move that began last summer when his approval rating was 59 - 31 percent positive June 4.
Except for terrorism, Obama's approval numbers on specific areas of domestic policy are lower than his overall rating:
41 - 54 percent for his handling of the economy; 34 - 59 percent for creating jobs; 35 - 58 percent for health care; 48 - 44 percent for handling terrorism.
"These ratings on the economy and health care probably are why more voters say they don't share Obama's views on the issues they care about," said Brown.
Obama's policies generally favor the rich, 18 percent say, as 15 percent say the middle class; 21 percent say the poor and 35 percent say he treats everyone equally.
Obama gets a split 45 - 46 percent for his handling of foreign policy and a split 45 - 45 percent for Afghanistan. Voters say 50 - 46 percent that he hasn't been tough enough standing up to the rest of the world, but agree 53 - 43 percent that he has improved America's image around the world.
From January 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,767 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 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.
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 45% 16% 81% 42% 42% 48% 36% 87% Disapprove 45 74 12 48 49 42 54 7 DK/NA 10 10 6 10 9 10 10 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 58% 41% 41% 47% 43% 45% 74% 53% 21% Disapprove 33 52 48 41 51 50 19 36 70 DK/NA 9 8 11 12 6 5 7 11 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 44% 49% 22% 29% 39% Disapprove 45 46 67 60 53 DK/NA 11 6 11 11 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 59% Mar 2009)
APPROVE....... High Low Jan 13 Dec 23 Dec 9 Nov 18 Oct 8 Jun 4 Jan 13 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009* 2010 Approve 45 46 46 48 50 59 45 Disapprove 45 43 44 42 41 31 45 DK/NA 10 11 10 10 9 10 10 INDEPENDENTS......................................... APPROVE...... High Low Jan 13 Dec 23 Dec 9 Nov 18 Oct 8 Jun 4 Dec 9 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 42 41 37 43 45 57 37 Disapprove 48 46 51 46 44 30 51 DK/NA 10 13 11 11 11 13 11
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 32% 13% 66% 23% 28% 36% 25% 71% Disapprove 59 83 24 67 65 53 67 22 DK/NA 9 4 9 10 7 10 8 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 40% 31% 29% 35% 29% 28% 51% 38% 17% Disapprove 49 61 63 53 67 65 37 53 78 DK/NA 11 8 8 11 4 7 11 9 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 33% 31% 17% 20% 28% Disapprove 57 64 78 73 64 DK/NA 10 5 5 7 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? (*Low also 32% Dec 23 2009)
APPROVE...... High Low Jan 13 Dec 23 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Mar 4 Jan 13 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010* Approve 32 32 33 36 33 45 32 Disapprove 59 59 56 55 56 45 59 DK/NA 9 9 11 9 11 10 9
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 32% 54% 22% 24% 32% 32% 32% 33% Disapprove 58 37 68 65 61 54 58 58 DK/NA 11 9 10 11 7 14 10 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 40% 31% 28% 30% 36% 31% 22% 27% 42% Disapprove 48 60 62 58 56 60 69 60 48 DK/NA 12 10 10 12 8 10 9 13 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 33% 29% 36% 33% 37% Disapprove 56 62 55 57 55 DK/NA 11 9 9 10 9
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?
APPROVE...... High Low Jan 13 Dec 23 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Jan 13 Oct 8 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2009 Approve 32 29 30 31 25 32 25 Disapprove 58 62 58 58 64 58 64 DK/NA 11 9 12 11 11 11 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 2% 1% 4% 2% 2% 3% 1% 8% Smwht satisfied 25 14 45 19 25 25 19 51 Smwht dissatisfied 31 30 36 30 30 32 33 24 Very dissatisfied 41 54 15 48 42 39 46 17 DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 - 1 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Very satisfied 3% 1% 3% 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 2% Smwht satisfied 35 23 21 26 24 27 45 27 13 Smwht dissatisfied 31 34 29 31 33 31 32 38 24 Very dissatisfied 31 42 46 39 42 40 19 31 61 DK/NA - 1 1 1 - - 1 1 - WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Very satisfied 3% 2% 1% 1% - Smwht satisfied 24 29 14 17 20 Smwht dissatisfied 31 33 31 31 31 Very dissatisfied 42 37 54 50 49 DK/NA - - - 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 Jan 13 Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Dec 11 Nov 13 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2001 2008 Very satisfied 2 2 3 3 3 21 2 Smwht satisfied 25 24 26 27 27 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 31 34 32 30 31 19 38 Very dissatisfied 41 40 39 39 38 10 44 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 3 2
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 41% 17% 77% 34% 37% 44% 32% 79% Disapprove 54 79 17 61 57 51 62 16 DK/NA 6 4 6 6 6 5 5 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 52% 35% 40% 43% 39% 39% 65% 47% 21% Disapprove 42 60 54 51 58 58 27 46 77 DK/NA 5 5 6 7 3 3 8 7 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 41% 42% 23% 28% 35% Disapprove 53 54 73 66 63 DK/NA 6 4 4 6 2
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy? (*Low also 41% Dec 9 2009)
APPROVE...... High Low Jan 13 Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 18 Oct 8 Mar 4 Jan 13 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 Approve 41 44 41 43 47 57 41* Disapprove 54 51 54 52 46 33 54 DK/NA 6 5 5 5 7 10 6
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 45% 19% 76% 43% 44% 45% 38% 74% Disapprove 46 72 17 50 49 44 53 20 DK/NA 9 9 7 7 6 11 9 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 54% 42% 43% 44% 44% 49% 72% 55% 21% Disapprove 35 51 48 44 50 48 20 37 71 DK/NA 11 7 9 12 5 4 8 8 8 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 44% 47% 25% 32% 39% Disapprove 46 47 66 59 53 DK/NA 10 6 9 10 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - foreign policy?
APPROVE....... High Low Jan 13 Dec 23 Dec 8 Nov 18 Oct 7 Apr 29 Jan 13 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 Approve 45 46 46 49 49 57 45 Disapprove 46 44 45 42 37 32 46 DK/NA 9 10 9 8 13 11 9
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - health care?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 35% 9% 70% 31% 32% 38% 27% 72% Disapprove 58 86 24 63 62 55 67 18 DK/NA 6 5 7 6 6 7 6 10 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 42% 33% 34% 36% 33% 37% 60% 41% 16% Disapprove 51 63 58 55 64 60 32 54 80 DK/NA 7 4 8 9 3 3 9 6 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 34% 39% 16% 22% 26% Disapprove 59 58 78 72 70 DK/NA 7 3 5 7 4
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - health care?
Jan 13 Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 2 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 35 38 38 41 41 39 46 Disapprove 58 56 56 53 51 52 42 DK/NA 6 6 6 6 8 9 13
8. 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 45% 34% 61% 42% 46% 44% 43% 61% Disapprove 45 57 27 48 47 43 48 31 DK/NA 10 9 12 9 7 13 9 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 46% 43% 47% 41% 52% 48% 55% 52% 33% Disapprove 43 49 42 47 41 46 35 38 57 DK/NA 11 9 11 12 6 7 10 10 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 43% 49% 37% 42% 45% Disapprove 46 42 54 49 49 DK/NA 11 8 9 10 6
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the situation in Afghanistan?
Jan 13 Dec 23 Dec 8 Nov 18 Oct 7 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 45 47 45 38 42 Disapprove 45 43 45 49 40 DK/NA 10 10 11 12 17
9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - creating jobs?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 34% 14% 64% 26% 29% 38% 28% 65% Disapprove 59 81 28 66 64 54 66 23 DK/NA 7 5 8 8 7 8 6 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 43% 30% 32% 36% 34% 29% 53% 39% 18% Disapprove 50 64 60 56 60 65 37 53 78 DK/NA 6 6 8 7 6 7 9 9 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 34% 34% 20% 24% 31% Disapprove 58 60 75 69 66 DK/NA 8 6 5 7 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - creating jobs?
Jan 13 Dec 22 2010 2009 Approve 34 37 Disapprove 59 56 DK/NA 7 8
10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - terrorism?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 48% 24% 74% 47% 46% 49% 43% 73% Disapprove 44 69 17 45 47 41 49 20 DK/NA 8 6 9 8 6 10 7 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 58% 44% 44% 49% 46% 48% 73% 58% 24% Disapprove 34 50 45 40 48 47 17 34 70 DK/NA 8 6 10 11 6 5 9 9 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 48% 48% 33% 39% 38% Disapprove 43 46 58 54 55 DK/NA 9 6 9 7 7
11. Do you think Barack Obama's first year as President has been mainly a success or mainly a failure?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Success 45% 17% 81% 40% 40% 49% 37% 82% Failure 45 75 13 47 50 40 54 7 DK/NA 10 8 7 13 10 10 10 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Success 56% 41% 43% 47% 43% 45% 75% 54% 20% Failure 33 50 48 41 51 50 20 34 71 DK/NA 11 9 9 12 7 6 5 13 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Success 44% 48% 24% 32% 36% Failure 45 44 67 59 53 DK/NA 11 8 9 9 12
12. 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 Better 43% 11% 79% 40% 38% 47% 36% 71% Worse 30 63 3 26 32 29 38 2 About the same 23 23 15 29 26 20 23 22 DK/NA 4 3 3 5 4 4 3 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Better 50% 39% 43% 45% 40% 42% 75% 49% 18% Worse 22 33 34 26 36 35 7 18 57 About the same 22 24 22 24 21 21 16 29 22 DK/NA 6 4 2 5 4 3 2 5 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Better 41% 46% 24% 31% 36% Worse 30 32 52 44 33 About the same 24 19 23 23 26 DK/NA 5 3 2 2 4
13. 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 Better off 35% 65% 10% 33% 37% 34% 43% 2% Worse off 37 9 68 36 35 38 31 65 SAME(VOL) 17 17 13 17 17 16 15 20 DK/NA 11 9 9 14 11 12 11 13 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Better off 24% 41% 36% 30% 43% 39% 13% 29% 55% Worse off 44 33 37 39 35 36 63 42 17 SAME(VOL) 22 16 14 20 12 16 15 18 17 DK/NA 10 10 13 11 10 10 9 12 11 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Better off 34% 38% 57% 50% 44% Worse off 36 39 17 25 29 SAME(VOL) 17 15 17 14 14 DK/NA 12 9 9 11 13
14. How would you describe your feelings toward President Obama: admire, satisfied, dissatisfied, or angry?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Admire 19% 6% 38% 15% 14% 24% 15% 38% Satisfied 34 18 50 34 36 32 29 53 Dissatisfied 30 47 9 33 33 28 36 6 Angry 15 27 3 15 16 14 18 2 DK/NA 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Admire 19% 18% 20% 18% 20% 24% 31% 23% 9% Satisfied 49 30 28 37 30 28 49 41 17 Dissatisfied 21 35 33 30 31 31 14 26 44 Angry 10 15 16 12 18 16 5 7 28 DK/NA 1 2 3 3 - 1 1 2 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Admire 18% 23% 10% 13% 14% Satisfied 35 29 21 24 31 Dissatisfied 30 32 44 42 32 Angry 15 14 23 18 20 DK/NA 2 2 3 3 2
15. Would you say that Barack Obama - is honest and trustworthy or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 56% 29% 90% 52% 53% 60% 49% 89% No 37 64 8 40 42 33 44 5 DK/NA 7 7 3 9 6 7 7 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 66% 52% 54% 58% 54% 53% 86% 67% 30% No 28 43 37 35 42 42 12 27 63 DK/NA 5 5 9 8 3 5 2 6 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 55% 59% 34% 42% 53% No 38 36 58 50 42 DK/NA 7 5 8 8 5
16. Would you say that Barack Obama - has strong leadership qualities or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 66% 45% 90% 64% 62% 69% 59% 94% No 32 53 9 33 35 29 39 5 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 81% 64% 58% 68% 62% 67% 84% 73% 48% No 19 35 38 30 36 32 14 23 51 DK/NA - 2 4 2 2 1 1 4 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 65% 69% 46% 54% 59% No 33 29 52 44 39 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 3
17. 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 Yes 46% 14% 85% 41% 42% 50% 38% 79% No 50 83 10 54 54 46 59 13 DK/NA 4 2 4 5 4 5 4 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 59% 42% 42% 48% 44% 42% 78% 53% 20% No 38 56 51 47 54 55 17 41 77 DK/NA 4 2 7 5 3 3 5 5 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 45% 48% 25% 30% 40% No 50 49 73 66 57 DK/NA 5 3 3 4 3
18. Do you think Barack Obama's policies generally favor the rich, favor the middle class, favor the poor, or treat all people about equally?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Rich 18% 22% 8% 21% 18% 18% 20% 15% Middle class 15 10 26 12 16 15 14 18 Poor 21 36 7 22 25 18 26 5 Treat all equally 35 17 54 33 30 39 29 55 DK/NA 11 14 4 12 10 12 12 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Rich 16% 20% 19% 24% 15% 10% 15% 14% 23% Middle class 21 16 11 15 18 13 28 17 7 Poor 21 23 19 14 27 37 6 22 30 Treat all equally 36 33 37 37 32 32 47 39 23 DK/NA 7 9 14 10 8 9 4 8 16 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Rich 21% 11% 28% 21% 17% Middle class 15 17 8 11 14 Poor 18 30 23 27 32 Treat all equally 36 33 25 26 29 DK/NA 11 10 16 15 9
19. Do you think President Obama has been spending too much time on the economy, not enough time on the economy, or about the right amount of time on the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too much time 5% 7% 3% 4% 5% 5% 5% 6% Not enough time 47 64 25 52 54 41 53 20 The right amount 42 23 68 38 34 49 36 69 DK/NA 6 6 4 6 6 5 5 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Too much time 6% 6% 3% 4% 6% 6% 2% 4% 9% Not enough time 42 49 49 48 48 47 36 43 59 The right amount 49 40 40 42 41 42 58 49 26 DK/NA 3 4 8 6 5 5 4 5 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Too much time 5% 5% 5% 5% 6% Not enough time 49 43 61 57 53 The right amount 41 45 29 33 38 DK/NA 5 6 5 6 3
20. 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 Bush 55% 24% 89% 55% 52% 59% 49% 89% Obama 20 42 3 15 21 18 24 1 NEITHER(VOL) 14 23 4 15 15 13 16 4 BOTH(VOL) 7 7 2 10 8 5 8 1 DK/NA 4 5 2 5 4 5 4 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Bush 63% 57% 49% 60% 52% 54% 85% 63% 31% Obama 16 18 24 17 23 21 5 11 36 NEITHER(VOL) 12 17 11 11 16 16 6 18 16 BOTH(VOL) 4 6 9 7 7 6 3 4 11 DK/NA 4 3 6 5 2 3 1 4 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Bush 56% 53% 35% 40% 50% Obama 19 20 33 28 22 NEITHER(VOL) 13 17 18 18 16 BOTH(VOL) 6 7 11 11 7 DK/NA 5 2 4 4 4
21. 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 Irresponsible 53% 85% 16% 58% 59% 49% 63% 14% Responsible 43 13 81 37 38 47 34 84 DK/NA 4 2 3 5 3 5 4 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Irresponsible 45% 58% 53% 49% 60% 61% 23% 45% 79% Responsible 51 39 42 46 37 38 73 50 18 DK/NA 4 3 5 5 3 1 4 4 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Irresponsible 53% 55% 77% 69% 61% Responsible 43 42 21 27 36 DK/NA 4 3 2 4 3
22. Do you think that the policies of President Barack Obama make the United States a safer place than the policies of former President George W. Bush, less safe, or about as safe as the policies of former President Bush?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Safer 24% 5% 50% 19% 21% 27% 20% 38% Less safe 35 66 7 34 41 31 42 9 About the same 38 27 39 46 37 39 36 50 DK/NA 3 3 3 1 2 3 2 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Safer 28% 21% 25% 27% 22% 21% 43% 28% 9% Less safe 29 38 37 31 40 42 9 26 61 About the same 43 38 35 40 35 36 46 43 29 DK/NA 1 2 3 2 2 1 2 3 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Safer 23% 26% 11% 15% 17% Less safe 35 37 54 47 43 About the same 39 34 33 36 37 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 2
23. Some people say President Obama isn't tough enough in standing up to the rest of the world for U.S. interests. Do you agree or disagree?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 50% 78% 20% 50% 54% 46% 57% 17% Disagree 46 18 76 47 43 49 40 82 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 3 5 4 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Agree 41% 55% 50% 47% 54% 53% 23% 40% 73% Disagree 56 43 45 49 44 45 73 56 23 DK/NA 3 3 5 5 2 3 3 3 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Agree 52% 45% 69% 61% 59% Disagree 45 52 28 35 37 DK/NA 4 3 3 4 4
24. Some people say President Obama's way of handling foreign policy has improved America's image around the world. Do you agree or disagree?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 53% 25% 85% 52% 54% 53% 45% 84% Disagree 43 71 13 43 44 42 50 11 DK/NA 4 4 3 5 3 6 4 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Agree 64% 50% 49% 53% 52% 54% 81% 61% 29% Disagree 32 46 47 41 47 42 17 34 66 DK/NA 4 4 4 6 2 3 1 5 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Agree 52% 56% 35% 41% 44% Disagree 43 40 60 55 51 DK/NA 5 3 5 4 4