Pennsylvania (PA) Poll * February 12, 2009 * Pennsylvania Voters Back Obama - Quinnipiac University

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February 12, 2009 - Pennsylvania Voters Back Obama And Stimulus Plan, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; But Most Say Stimulus Plan Won't Help Them

Word format Pennsylvania voters approve 63 - 22 percent of the overall job President Barack Obama is doing and approve 59 - 26 percent of the way he is handling the economy, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Voters support 54 - 37 percent President Obama's Economic Stimulus Package, but say 61 - 34 percent that the stimulus plan will not help them personally, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Democrats say 48 - 45 percent the stimulus plan will help them, but Republicans say 75 - 21 percent the plan won't help them, as do independent voters 67 - 27 percent. Voters 18 to 34 years old are the least pessimistic, but even they say 52 - 45 percent the stimulus plan won't help them. Voters in every income group, even those making less than $50,000 per year, don't expect to benefit from the plan.
Only 5 percent of Pennsylvania voters describe their personal financial condition as "excellent," as 45 percent say "good," 32 percent say "not so good" and 16 percent say "poor."
"Pennsylvania voters give President Obama high marks, and they support his stimulus package for the economy, but they don't think it will help their personal financial situation, which almost half describe as not so good or poor," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Even young voters and lower income voters don't see a connection between the stimulus package and their financial future."
Pennsylvania voters split evenly, with 50 percent "very confident" or "somewhat confident" the Economic Stimulus Package will help solve the nation's economic problems and 49 percent "not too confident" or "not confident at all."
The stimulus plan will take less than a year to work, 5 percent say, while 69 percent say it will take more than a year and 24 percent say it never will work.
But 64 percent of voters say the national economy will get better by the end of Obama's first term. Even Republicans say 42 - 20 percent that the economy will get better.
Right now, 30 percent of Pennsylvania voters say the national economy is "not so good" and 66 percent say it's "poor."
Looking at the Keystone State economy, 50 percent say it's "not so good," while 38 percent say it's "poor" and only 11 percent say it's good.
"On one hand about 90 percent say the economy - both nationally and statewide - is in bad shape, but on the other hand, six in 10 say they have confidence Obama can lead the nation out of the economic crisis, though they say it will take more than a year for the stimulus package to work," Richards said.
Personally, they are worse off than they were a year ago, 54 percent of Pennsylvania voters say, while 23 percent say they are better off and 22 percent say things are the same.
And 53 percent expect things to stay the same in the next year, while 27 percent expect things to get better and 16 percent expect things to get worse.
A total of 67 percent of all Pennsylvania voters are "somewhat worried" or "very worried" that they won't have enough money to live on in retirement.
From February 5 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,490 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 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.
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 63% 38% 87% 62% 58% 68% Disapprove 22 40 4 26 26 18 DK/NA 15 22 9 12 16 14 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 66% 90% 61% 65% 56% 57% 55% Disapprove 22 2 24 22 23 24 29 DK/NA 12 7 15 14 21 19 16 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Approve 72% 63% 60% 65% 66% 62% 61% 68% Disapprove 19 23 22 19 23 25 23 20 DK/NA 9 14 18 16 11 14 16 12
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush handled his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 30% 60% 7% 28% 33% 27% Disapprove 66 34 92 67 64 68 DK/NA 4 6 2 5 2 5 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 28% 19% 25% 30% 31% 37% 35% Disapprove 70 80 70 67 65 60 59 DK/NA 3 1 5 3 4 3 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Approve 33% 29% 28% 28% 32% 33% 30% 30% Disapprove 65 67 67 68 63 66 66 68 DK/NA 2 4 5 4 5 1 4 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? (handled, *also 23% 5/1/2008)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 12 May 22 May 1 Apr 2 Feb 27 Jun 5 May 22 2009* 2008 2008 2008 2008 2002 2008** Approve 30 23 23 26 30 73 23 Disapprove 66 72 73 69 65 21 72 DK/NA 4 5 4 5 5 6 5
9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 32% 55% 39% 42% 42% Disapprove 47 58 35 49 49 45 DK/NA 11 10 10 12 9 13 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 41% 59% 35% 59% 30% 32% 33% Disapprove 53 32 48 29 59 57 56 DK/NA 6 9 17 12 11 10 12 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Approve 43% 43% 42% 42% 40% 51% 40% 48% Disapprove 44 46 47 47 49 38 49 41 DK/NA 13 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 59% 33% 84% 56% 53% 65% Disapprove 26 45 6 30 31 21 DK/NA 16 21 9 15 17 15 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 61% 79% 56% 59% 55% 52% 55% Disapprove 27 8 31 26 24 26 30 DK/NA 11 13 13 15 20 22 16 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Approve 66% 61% 54% 62% 61% 56% 59% 59% Disapprove 26 25 25 23 25 30 25 26 DK/NA 9 14 21 15 14 14 16 14
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 Excellent - 1% - - 1% - Good 4 5 3 3 4 4 Not so good 30 36 25 32 32 28 Poor 66 58 72 65 63 68 DK/NA - - - - - - Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Excellent - 2% - 1% - - - Good 3 8 4 2 3 5 4 Not so good 33 18 32 30 26 40 31 Poor 64 72 63 67 71 55 65 DK/NA - 1 1 - - - - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Excellent - - 1% - - 1% - - Good 5 4 2 4 3 3 4 3 Not so good 39 27 27 27 32 36 29 32 Poor 56 68 70 67 65 59 66 65 DK/NA - 1 - - - - - 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Feb 12 Feb 27 Sep 28 Sep 16 Aug 18 Jul 14 2009 2008 2004 2004 2004 2004 Excellent - 1 2 3 2 3 Good 4 19 34 36 34 37 Not so good 30 44 39 39 44 41 Poor 66 35 23 22 20 18 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 1
12. Would you describe the state of Pennsylvania's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent - 1% - - - - Good 11 11 11 9 12 9 Not so good 50 50 47 53 53 47 Poor 38 37 41 37 34 42 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Excellent - 2% 2% - - - - Good 15 10 8 9 10 8 13 Not so good 50 40 44 60 49 55 47 Poor 33 49 44 30 40 37 40 DK/NA 2 - 2 1 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Excellent 1% - 1% 1% - - 1% - Good 8 10 12 10 12 9 11 9 Not so good 52 47 52 48 51 55 47 59 Poor 38 43 35 40 36 35 41 31 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of the Pennsylvania's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Exclnt+Good... High Low Feb 11 Jul 14 Jul 13 Jun 24 May 27 Jun 24 Feb 12 2009 2005 2004 2004 2004 2004 2009 Excellent - 1 1 1 1 1 - Good 11 41 41 42 38 42 11 Not so good 50 43 43 42 43 42 50 Poor 38 13 12 13 16 13 38 DK/NA 1 2 3 2 2 2 1
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 Excellent 5% 7% 4% 5% 6% 5% Good 45 51 39 51 50 41 Not so good 32 28 33 36 28 36 Poor 16 13 23 8 15 18 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Excellent 7% 4% 2% 7% 6% 5% 5% Good 43 32 47 51 37 52 46 Not so good 36 34 28 29 38 32 32 Poor 12 29 22 12 18 10 15 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Excellent 4% 7% 5% 3% 6% 15% 4% 10% Good 51 44 43 35 56 62 41 55 Not so good 30 34 32 36 32 18 34 29 Poor 15 16 17 25 7 5 20 6 DK/NA - - 2 1 - - 1 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 Excellent 5 5 Good 45 47 Not so good 32 32 Poor 16 15 DK/NA 1 1
14. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better off 23% 22% 24% 21% 25% 21% Worse off 54 52 56 54 51 57 SAME(VOL) 22 24 20 23 23 21 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 1 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Better off 22% 35% 23% 18% 25% 26% 19% Worse off 49 49 58 61 48 54 54 SAME(VOL) 29 16 18 20 27 19 25 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Better off 37% 24% 15% 18% 28% 34% 20% 29% Worse off 46 55 58 56 54 47 55 53 SAME(VOL) 17 21 25 25 18 18 23 18 DK/NA - 1 2 1 1 1 1 -
TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? (*Low also 23% Nov 2008)
BETTER OFF.... High Low Feb 12 Nov 26 Jul 13 Apr 22 Mar 17 Jul 13 Feb 12 2009 2008 2004 2004 2004 2004 2009 Better off 23 23 39 38 38 39 23 Worse off 54 54 35 38 36 35 54 SAME(VOL) 22 22 24 24 24 24 22 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
15. 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 Get better 27% 25% 27% 29% 30% 25% Get worse 16 20 11 18 15 18 Stay the same 53 51 56 51 51 54 DK/NA 4 4 5 2 4 4 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Get better 24% 35% 24% 24% 27% 28% 28% Get worse 14 10 19 17 17 16 18 Stay the same 60 48 54 57 50 53 48 DK/NA 2 6 3 2 6 2 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Get better 38% 29% 20% 27% 26% 31% 27% 29% Get worse 12 16 18 15 17 17 17 15 Stay the same 45 51 58 53 55 50 53 53 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 3 2 4 3
TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 Get better 27 26 Get worse 16 23 Stay the same 53 47 DK/NA 4 5
16. By the end of Barack Obama's term in office, do you expect the economy to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 64% 42% 83% 62% 63% 65% Worse 11 20 2 12 13 9 Same 20 30 13 19 19 21 DK/NA 5 7 2 7 5 5 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Better 64% 81% 63% 67% 63% 57% 57% Worse 12 3 12 10 9 17 12 Same 21 12 21 18 20 18 24 DK/NA 3 4 3 5 8 8 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Better 69% 63% 63% 64% 66% 65% 62% 68% Worse 7 13 11 10 12 11 11 11 Same 22 19 19 20 18 21 21 17 DK/NA 2 5 6 6 4 3 5 4
TREND: By the end of Barack Obama's term in office, do you expect the economy to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same?
Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 Better 64 62 Worse 11 15 Same 20 17 DK/NA 5 7
17. Congress is debating President Obama's economic stimulus package which includes tax cuts and new federal spending of about 800 billion dollars. Do you support or oppose this economic stimulus package?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 54% 32% 80% 48% 51% 57% Oppose 37 61 11 43 42 32 DK/NA 9 7 10 9 7 11 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Support 53% 78% 54% 53% 50% 55% 47% Oppose 38 15 41 38 41 35 42 DK/NA 9 6 5 9 9 10 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 63% 55% 50% 58% 57% 51% 54% 55% Oppose 31 37 39 32 37 43 37 37 DK/NA 6 8 11 10 5 5 9 8
18. How confident are you that this economic stimulus package will help solve the nation's economic problems - Very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very confident 6% 3% 9% 5% 5% 6% Smwht confident 44 23 65 40 39 49 Not too confident 26 35 19 26 27 25 Not confident at all 23 39 3 29 28 18 DK/NA 2 1 3 1 2 2 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Very confident 6% 16% 4% 3% 3% 5% 5% Smwht confident 42 58 40 47 44 44 39 Not too confident 30 16 28 23 30 19 30 Not confident at all 21 8 26 24 22 30 24 DK/NA 1 3 1 2 - 2 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Very confident 7% 4% 6% 8% 5% 0% 6% 3% Smwht confident 49 46 42 45 45 45 43 47 Not too confident 26 23 28 27 24 25 27 23 Not confident at all 18 25 22 18 24 30 22 25 DK/NA - 2 2 2 2 - 1 2
19. How long do you think it will take for the program to work - less than a year, more than a year, or will it never work?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Less than a year 5% 4% 6% 4% 4% 5% More than a year 69 53 87 63 65 73 Never 24 40 5 30 29 19 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 2 4 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Less than a year 1% 9% 9% 2% 5% 7% 3% More than a year 74 77 61 68 69 64 69 Never 24 9 29 26 24 28 24 DK/NA 1 5 1 4 1 1 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Less than a year 8% 2% 5% 6% 2% 5% 5% 3% More than a year 67 71 68 71 72 62 69 68 Never 21 25 23 20 23 33 23 27 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 2 - 3 3
20. Do you think the economic stimulus package will help your personal financial situation?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 34% 21% 48% 27% 32% 35% No 61 75 45 67 63 58 DK/NA 6 4 7 6 5 6 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Yes 38% 55% 34% 23% 27% 35% 31% No 60 38 58 73 67 60 61 DK/NA 2 7 7 4 6 5 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 45% 34% 27% 36% 33% 32% 33% 36% No 52 60 66 57 63 65 62 59 DK/NA 3 5 7 7 4 3 6 5
26. Are you currently employed, employed part time, retired, not working but looking for a job or not working and not looking for a job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Employed 49% 51% 44% 55% 57% 41% Part time 10 11 10 10 6 14 Retired 27 25 31 23 27 27 Looking 6 5 7 5 5 7 Not looking 7 8 7 7 3 11 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 1 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Employed 44% 40% 53% 57% 46% 42% 50% Part time 12 7 12 9 9 9 12 Retired 36 28 19 26 31 31 23 Looking 5 11 5 3 7 5 7 Not looking 3 10 8 5 6 12 7 DK/NA - 4 3 - - 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Employed 62% 65% 24% 32% 69% 78% 42% 67% Part time 16 11 7 13 9 5 11 8 Retired - 6 62 38 13 7 31 16 Looking 11 7 3 8 3 3 7 4 Not looking 11 10 3 8 6 7 8 5 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 - - 1 1
TREND: Are you currently employed, employed part time, retired, not working but looking for a job or not working and not looking for a job?
Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 Employed 49 51 Part time 10 8 Retired 27 27 Looking 6 5 Not looking 7 7 DK/NA 1 2
27. (All except retired q26) Do you have a 401k or some other type of retirement plan?
ALL EXCEPT RETIRED Q26.................................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 69% 73% 65% 73% 76% 63% No 30 27 33 27 24 35 DK/NA 1 - 2 - - 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 59% 74% 72% 51% 82% 89% 62% 86% No 40 25 27 47 18 11 37 13 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1
TREND: (All except retired q18) Do you have a 401k or some other type of retirement plan?
ALL EXCEPT RETIRED Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 Yes 69 68 No 30 32 DK/NA 1 1
28. (If have retirement plan - retired or not) Because of what's going on in the economy today has that plan lost money in the last year?
HAVE RETIREMENT PLAN Q27................................ Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 85% 82% 86% 89% 88% 82% No 14 15 14 10 11 16 DK/NA 1 3 - 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 78% 87% 88% 76% 90% 88% 82% 89% No 20 12 11 21 10 10 16 10 DK/NA 2 1 1 3 - 1 2 1
TREND: (If have retirement plan - retired or not) Because of what's going on in the economy today has that plan lost money in the last year?
HAVE RETIREMENT PLAN Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 Yes 85 73 No 14 23 DK/NA 1 5
29. (If yes q28) Would you say your plan has lost a lot of money, some money, or only a little money?
RETIREMENT PLAN LOST MONEY Q28........ Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 64% 68% 59% 67% 66% 62% Some 26 24 30 26 26 27 Only a little 7 5 9 5 6 8 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 2 3
TREND: (If yes) Would you say your plan has lost a lot of money, some money, or only a little money?
RETIREMENT PLAN LOST MONEY Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 A lot 64 56 Some 26 33 Only a little 7 8 DK/NA 2 2
30. Because of what's going on in the economy today, how worried are you that you will not have enough money to live on in retirement - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very worried 31% 26% 35% 32% 23% 38% Smwht worried 36 39 34 37 37 35 Not too worried 18 19 17 16 21 15 Not worried at all 14 15 12 14 18 10 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 1 2 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Very worried 30% 31% 42% 24% 32% 21% 34% Smwht worried 34 28 32 41 42 45 33 Not too worried 17 20 11 23 13 16 18 Not worried at all 18 17 15 11 12 16 13 DK/NA 2 4 - 1 1 2 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Very worried 32% 36% 25% 37% 27% 16% 34% 22% Smwht worried 32 33 41 35 37 35 37 34 Not too worried 16 17 20 12 23 29 14 27 Not worried at all 20 12 12 13 12 19 13 16 DK/NA - 1 2 2 - - 2 1
TREND: Because of what's going on in the economy today, how worried are you that you will not have enough money to live on in retirement - Very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Feb 12 Nov 26 2009 2008 Very worried 31 25 Smwht worried 36 38 Not too worried 18 20 Not worried at all 14 15 DK/NA 2 2