New Jersey (NJ) Poll * August 12, 2009 * Obama Approval Drops In New Je - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> New Jersey (NJ)> Release Detail

August 12, 2009 - Obama Approval Drops In New Jersey, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Hopeful, But Don't Expect Obama To Help Them

Word format New Jersey voters approve 56 - 39 percent of the job Barack Obama is doing as President, down from 61 - 33 percent July 14, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Democrats approve 89 - 8 percent, but disapproval is 72 - 23 percent among Republicans and 48 - 45 percent among independent voters.
Voters approve 52 - 42 percent of the way President Obama is handling the economy and 51 percent say his economic policies will help the economy, while 35 percent say they will hurt the economy and 10 percent say they won't make a difference, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
But only 35 percent of voters say Obama's policies will help their personal financial situation, while 35 percent say they will hurt and 27 percent say they won't make a difference.
On other questions on the economy, New Jersey voters say:
92 percent that the U.S. economy is "not so good" or "poor;" 91 percent that New Jersey's economy is "not so good" or "poor;" 56 percent that their personal finances are "excellent" or "good," with 42 percent reporting "not so good" or "poor."
"For President Barack Obama, the bloom is fading in the Garden State as his approval rating wilts," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "The President still is on the positive side when we ask about his overall job approval and his grades for handling the economy. But the trend - and that's what you always look at - is heading down."
"The national economy? In the pits. The New Jersey economy? Almost as bad."
Only 23 percent of New Jersey voters say they are better off financially than they were a year ago, while 52 percent say they are worse off and 24 percent say things are the same.
Things will get better for them in the next 12 months, 39 percent of voters hope, with 12 percent who expect things to get worse and 46 percent who don't expect any change. This is up from 30 - 15 percent February 5 and the highest confidence level ever measured in New Jersey.
Most New Jersey voters - 59 percent - say the current economic situation causes stress in their life. The biggest economic concerns are loss of a job or loss of retirement savings, at 19 percent each, followed by healthcare costs, at 17 percent, college tuition at 11 percent and mortgage or rent payments at 9 percent.
A total of 56 percent of voters are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" that they or someone in their family will lose their job in the next year or so.
"We're an optimistic crowd in New Jersey. Most of us say our personal economic fortunes are down from last year. But 85 percent of us think things are looking up, or at least holding steady," Carroll said.
"Stressed? You bet. We see the business news. And we worry that someone close to us might lose their job."
From August 5 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,301 New Jersey registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed: http://ww.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
12. 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 56% 23% 89% 45% 50% 61% 45% 92% Disapprove 39 72 8 48 45 33 49 4 DK/NA 5 5 3 7 5 6 6 4 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 71% 62% 41% 63% 42% Disapprove 23 33 54 30 55 DK/NA 7 5 5 7 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
APPROVE....... DIS... High Low High Aug 12 Jul 14 Jun 10 May 20 Jun 10 Aug 12 Aug 12 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 56 61 68 67 68 56 56 Disapprove 39 33 25 27 25 39 39 DK/NA 5 6 7 6 7 5 5
28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 52% 19% 86% 42% 48% 57% 44% 83% Disapprove 42 76 10 51 48 36 51 13 DK/NA 6 5 3 7 5 7 6 4 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 67% 60% 38% 56% 37% Disapprove 27 34 56 37 56 DK/NA 6 5 6 7 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
Aug 12 May 20 Apr 22 Mar 11 Feb 5 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 52 61 62 57 59 Disapprove 42 31 29 32 21 DK/NA 6 7 9 12 20
29. Do you think President Obama's policies have helped the economy, hurt the economy, or haven't made a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Helped 42% 15% 68% 37% 40% 44% 35% 73% Hurt 24 44 5 31 29 20 30 2 No difference 29 38 23 29 28 31 32 17 DK/NA 4 2 4 4 4 5 3 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Helped 54% 43% 35% 47% 34% Hurt 15 21 32 20 33 No difference 27 32 30 28 27 DK/NA 4 4 4 5 5
30. Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help the economy, will hurt the economy, or won't make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will help 51% 14% 87% 39% 44% 56% 41% 84% Will hurt 35 66 7 42 42 28 44 6 No difference 10 17 3 12 10 10 11 1 DK/NA 5 3 2 7 4 5 4 9 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Will help 63% 55% 42% 50% 41% Will hurt 20 30 45 33 46 No difference 13 7 9 11 12 DK/NA 4 7 3 5 1
31. Do you think President Obama's policies have helped your personal financial situation, hurt your personal financial situation, or haven't made a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Helped 16% 7% 29% 10% 16% 17% 13% 30% Hurt 22 39 6 26 22 22 27 5 No difference 60 53 64 62 61 59 59 62 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 2 1 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Helped 19% 23% 7% 15% 14% Hurt 14 18 37 20 22 No difference 64 57 56 63 64 DK/NA 3 2 - 1 -
32. Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help your personal financial situation, will hurt your personal financial situation, or won't make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will help 35% 6% 64% 24% 29% 40% 25% 68% Will hurt 35 62 8 45 41 29 45 3 No difference 27 28 26 29 28 26 27 26 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 2 5 3 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Will help 43% 38% 27% 39% 26% Will hurt 24 30 51 26 44 No difference 30 27 21 30 27 DK/NA 2 5 1 5 3
33. 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 Excellent 1% - - - 1% - - 1% Good 7 4 10 6 5 8 5 17 Not so good 47 41 55 46 49 45 46 56 Poor 45 55 35 48 45 45 48 24 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1 - 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Excellent 1% - - - 3% Good 7 8 5 5 6 Not so good 55 52 42 42 42 Poor 35 39 53 52 50 DK/NA 2 1 - 1 -
TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as: excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
EXCLNT+ GOOD.. High Low Aug 12 Apr 22 Mar 11 Feb 5 Feb 21 Aug 5 Mar 11 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2004 2009 Excellent 1 - - 1 1 2 - Good 7 6 2 2 15 40 2 Not so good 47 45 24 27 45 40 24 Poor 45 49 74 70 38 17 74 DK/NA 1 - - - 1 1 -
34. Would you describe the state of New Jersey's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent - 1% - - - - - - Good 7 5 10 5 6 8 5 9 Not so good 46 38 58 42 45 47 47 48 Poor 45 56 32 51 47 44 47 40 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 2 1 1 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Excellent 1% - - - - Good 6 10 5 6 6 Not so good 47 53 42 42 41 Poor 45 36 53 51 50 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 2
TREND: Would you describe the state of New Jersey's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? (*Low also 7% on 02/05/2009)
EXCLNT+ GOOD... High Low Aug 12 Apr 22 Mar 11 Feb 5 Jun 16 Oct 18 Aug 12 2009 2009 2009 2009 2006 2001 2009* Excellent - - - - 3 3 - Good 7 10 8 7 42 54 7 Not so good 46 48 43 43 38 37 46 Poor 45 40 48 50 16 5 45 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 2 2 1
35. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in New Jersey will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Get better 43% 27% 63% 34% 42% 44% 38% 66% Get worse 15 19 7 19 17 13 15 7 Stay the same 39 50 29 44 38 40 43 24 DK/NA 3 4 1 4 3 4 4 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Get better 47% 46% 38% 42% 40% Get worse 13 11 14 22 16 Stay the same 36 40 45 34 40 DK/NA 4 3 3 2 4
TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in New Jersey will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Aug 12 Jun 22 Mar 9 2009 2004 2004 Get better 43 31 31 Get worse 15 9 12 Stay same 39 56 53 DK/NA 3 4 3
36. 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 Excellent 5% 4% 5% 7% 7% 3% 5% 3% Good 51 51 53 50 54 48 52 49 Not so good 31 33 30 28 28 33 31 31 Poor 11 10 11 13 10 12 10 15 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 1 3 2 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Excellent 5% 7% 7% 3% 3% Good 42 52 51 52 53 Not so good 35 29 28 30 34 Poor 15 9 11 13 9 DK/NA 4 3 3 1 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Aug 12 Apr 22 Mar 11 Feb 4 Nov 20 Oct 8 Apr 12 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2001 2001 Excellent 5 6 5 4 6 10 8 Good 51 45 39 42 49 66 64 Not so good 31 34 39 38 30 19 21 Poor 11 14 15 15 13 4 6 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 1 1 1
37. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Better off 23% 16% 29% 20% 25% 21% 18% 36% Worse off 52 61 45 55 49 54 57 31 SAME(VOL) 24 23 25 24 24 23 24 31 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Better off 28% 23% 25% 26% 13% Worse off 44 49 56 51 59 SAME(VOL) 26 27 17 21 26 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 2
TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Aug 12 Feb 5 Nov 20 Jun 22 Mar 9 Apr 2 2009 2009 2008 2004 2004 2003 Better off 23 21 20 36 38 32 Worse off 52 57 59 37 37 43 SAME(VOL) 24 21 20 25 23 24 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 2 2
38. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Get better 39% 28% 52% 34% 40% 39% 32% 67% Get worse 12 14 5 18 10 13 14 2 Stay the same 46 53 42 46 46 45 51 30 DK/NA 3 5 1 3 4 3 3 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Get better 47% 41% 35% 39% 36% Get worse 8 11 13 15 11 Stay the same 41 45 50 45 47 DK/NA 4 3 2 1 7
TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? (*financial situation)
Aug 12 Feb 5 Nov 20 Feb 21 Oct 18 2009 2009 2008 2008* 2001* Get better 39 30 28 23 35 Get worse 12 15 22 20 8 Stay the same 46 52 45 55 54 DK/NA 3 4 5 2 3
39. Is the current economic situation a cause of stress in your life, or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 59% 62% 58% 59% 57% 61% 60% 53% No 40 37 41 41 42 38 39 45 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 59% 61% 60% 57% 56% No 40 38 40 43 42 DK/NA 1 1 - - 1
40. (If YES q39) Is it a cause of serious stress, or stress, but not serious?
YES Q39............................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Serious stress 33% 36% 34% 29% 33% 33% Not serious stress 67 64 65 71 67 66 DK/NA - - 1 - - 1 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Serious stress 39% 31% 37% 25% 35% Not serious stress 61 69 63 74 64 DK/NA - - - 1 1
41. What is your biggest personal economic concern right now - food costs, healthcare costs, mortgage or rent payments, energy bills, credit card or loan payments, college tuition, retirement savings, or loss of a job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Food costs 3% 2% 2% 5% 3% 3% 3% 1% Healthcare costs 17 19 17 15 13 20 18 17 Mortgage/rent 9 10 9 8 9 9 9 10 Energy bills 6 8 6 6 6 7 7 11 Credit card/loan 8 8 8 8 7 9 7 6 College tuition 11 10 14 7 13 8 9 11 Retirement savings 19 19 15 23 18 19 23 7 Loss of a job 19 13 24 20 20 18 16 29 DK/NA 8 10 5 8 10 7 8 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Food costs 4% 2% 3% 2% 5% Healthcare costs 17 14 23 18 15 Mortgage/rent 6 7 7 12 14 Energy bills 2 7 6 8 6 Credit card/loan 6 7 11 10 7 College tuition 10 14 10 10 5 Retirement savings 12 21 20 16 21 Loss of a job 29 19 15 18 14 DK/NA 14 9 3 5 11
42. How concerned are you that you or someone in your family will lose their job in the next year or so - very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very concerned 26% 22% 26% 29% 23% 29% 24% 36% Smwht concerned 30 30 32 28 29 30 30 30 Not too concerned 21 23 21 20 22 20 21 12 Not concerned at all 19 21 17 18 23 15 20 12 HAVE LOST JOB(VOL) 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 6 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very concerned 33% 23% 25% 32% 22% Smwht concerned 27 32 27 28 31 Not too concerned 20 21 21 17 27 Not concerned at all 13 19 25 19 18 HAVE LOST JOB(VOL) 5 5 1 3 2 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 -