Polls

Pew: Majority Find GOP Unfavorable, But Obama's Leadership Ratings Also Drop

Kyle Leighton | August 26, 2011, 6:23AM

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and President Barack Obama

Polls have shown for weeks that voters are upset with Washington, and not just in a normal partisan bickering way. Congressional approval ratings are at historic lows after the almost-default and President Obama, who had maintained an approval rating around 50 percent throughout his presidency despite some major legislative battles, has seen his rating hit a low of 38 percent just a few days ago.

But a new Pew poll out on Wednesday provided a more in-depth look at Americans' frustrations: namely, very high unfavorability ratings for the Republican Party, and lower ratings on President Obama's ability to lead.

The poll shows problems for the GOP in two ways. First, the GOP has seen a more severe fall in its rating after the debt fight, as its approval now sits at 34 percent against 59 percent disapproval, a large shift from the closer split that Republicans had the first month they controlled the House: 43 - 48 in February. The Democratic Party had a slim positive rating in February of 47 - 46, but has also slipped in all the Washington brinkmanship, to 43 - 50.

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Polls

Obama Hits Another Low In The Gallup Poll

Kyle Leighton | August 23, 2011, 3:31PM

President Barack Obama (D)

It's been a tough month for Washington's approval ratings, as Congress has hit new lows and general economic confidence sank. President Obama is also being dragged down, not only because of partisan bickering over the debt deal, but because of a stagnant and volatile economy, which was one of the President's strongest issues when he came into office. Now Obama has hit a new low in the Gallup tracking poll at 38 percent approval.

Even though there is no lack of bad news, Obama is still far away from President Bush's low, which was 25 percent. The current President has had strong staying power in his approval rating, despite bruising legislative battles with Congress and the continuation of global conflicts: as the graph below shows, it has remained around the 50 percent mark.

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Polls

Gallup: Obama Approval Rating Improving In Crucial States

Kyle Leighton | August 8, 2011, 11:45AM

President Obama has seen some hits to his national approval rating over the last few weeks as residue from the bruising debt debate, although Congress is even worse off since the almost-default. But new data from Gallup released on Monday shows a much more coherent and specific picture of Obama's job approval as he ramps up his 2012 election campaign, and how his approval rating looks when set against the modern electoral map.

The data, taken from Gallup's polling from January 2011 to June of this year, charts the president's rating in all 50 states, using interviews with more than 90,000 American adults. While his national approval rating for this time period in the Gallup tracking poll is below 50%, the map shows an improving picture after the GOP victories of 2010, and much of that improvement in swing states.

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Barack Obama

Bin Laden Bump Gone, Economic Pessimism Drags Down Obama's Approval Rating

Jon Terbush | June 7, 2011, 9:57AM

Barack Obama

One month after Osama bin Laden's death gave a big boost to President Obama's approval rating, an ABC News/ Washington Post poll released Tuesday finds that that spike has all but evaporated, as Americans' deep concerns about the struggling economy have significantly dragged down the President's job rating.

In addition, Obama received his worst marks ever on his handling of the economy and the federal deficit. As a result, his standing has slipped so much that he's now in a statistical dead heat with Mitt Romney in a theoretical test of the 2012 election.

As a whole, the survey shows broad discontent with the pace of the economic recovery, and it serves as a reminder that the economy's health will be a major factor heading into next year's elections.

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Pres '12

Despite Approval Rating Spike, No Boost For Obama In 2012 Hypotheticals

Jon Terbush | May 11, 2011, 2:12PM

President Barack Obama

The death of Osama bin Laden gave a sizable boost to President Obama's approval ratings over the past week and a half. However, a PPP poll released on Wednesday finds that despite that bin Laden bump, Obama has not increased his leads over the big-name Republicans who may challenge him in next year's election.

Compared to one month ago, the latest survey did not show Obama pulling away from several prominent GOP candidates, though he did maintain his already comfortable leads over each of them.

In the poll, Obama beat each of the six Republicans tested against him, winning each contest by at least a five-point spread.

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Barack Obama

Poll: Obama's Approval Rating Hits Two-Year High

Jon Terbush | May 11, 2011, 8:28AM

President Barack Obama (D)

Fully six in ten Americans now approve of President Obama's job performance, according to an AP poll released Wednesday morning, the highest level recorded in their surveys in exactly two years.

In addition, the poll showed the president's reelection prospects getting a boost too, as it found that more Americans now think Obama deserves to be reelected than the percentage who said the same two months ago.

In the poll, 60% of respondents said they approved of Obama's job performance, compared to 39% who disapproved. That's the best rating Obama has received since May 2009 when, riding high after his inauguration, 64% of Americans approved of his job performance.

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Barack Obama

Poll: Despite Rising Approval Rating, Obama Gets Worst Marks Ever On Economic Management

Jon Terbush | May 10, 2011, 1:08PM

Following the killing of Osama bin Laden, President Obama's approval rating received an expected bump. Yet while his overall approval rating ticked up, his marks when it comes to the economy actually fell at the same time, dropping to a record-low in the latest NBC survey released this week.

That finding underscores the old political maxim that, "it's the economy, stupid," as it shows that Obama's overall presidency is still weighed down by the sluggish economy even while enjoying a major national security success.

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Barack Obama

Poll: Obama's Approval Rating Jumps Nine Points After Bin Laden's Death

Jon Terbush | May 3, 2011, 12:48PM

President Barack Obama

Immediately following the announcement that American forces had killed Osama bin Laden, President Obama's approval rating leapt to its highest level since 2009 in a Washington Post/Pew poll.

In the poll, which was conducted on Monday, 56% of Americans said they approved of Obama's job performance, compared to 38% who said the disapproved. That's a marked turnaround from one month ago, when 47% of Americans gave Obama positive marks on his job performance, while 45% said otherwise.

TPM SLIDESHOW: Osama Bin Laden Killed: The Nation Reacts

It also marks the highest approval rating the President has enjoyed since June 2009, when 61% of Americans approved of his job performance, and 30% disapproved.

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Barack Obama

Approval Of Obama's Handling Of Economy Hits All-Time Low In Marist Poll

Jon Terbush | April 28, 2011, 3:08PM

President Barack Obama

With the economy still sputtering and gas prices rising, the percentage of Americans who approve of how President Obama has managed the economy has sunk to a new low, according a Marist poll released on Thursday.

In the poll, only 40% of registered voters said they approved of how Obama had handled the economy. Meanwhile, 57% said they disapproved of Obama's job performance with respect to the economy, also a record in Marist's polls.

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Pres '12

Poll: Obama Loses Ground To 2012 GOPers, Leads Romney By One Point

Jon Terbush | April 20, 2011, 12:17PM

Former Governor Mitt Romney and President Obama

As Obama's approval rating has slipped in the past few months, so too have his leads over potential 2012 challengers.

In a McClatchy-Marist poll released on Wednesday, Obama posted a one-point lead over Mitt Romney, down from a robust 13-point edge just three months ago. Obama still notched comfortable leads on Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, though both Republicans have gained some ground since January as well.

That indicates that while Obama enjoyed a brief honeymoon to start 2011, the bump has quickly evaporated, and his reelection prospects remain far from certain.

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Presidential Approval Ratings

Poll: Obama's Approval Rating Dives As Economic Pessimism Hits Two Year High

Jon Terbush | April 19, 2011, 9:56AM

President Barack Obama

The percentage of Americans who say the economy is getting worse has risen to the highest level since the early months of President Obama's presidency, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Tuesday.

At the same time, Obama's approval rating has slipped to the point where a majority of Americans now disapprove of his job performance. But despite Obama's shaky standing, the president still led every potential Republican rival paired against him in potential head-to-head 2012 matchups, a sign that while he is weak, the GOP field right now is weaker.

In the poll, 44% of respondents said the economy was getting worse, up 10 points since last October. That's the highest level notched in the Washington Post-ABC News poll since March 2009 when 48% of Americans thought the economy was headed in the wrong direction.

Additionally, only 28% of adults now say the economy is headed in the right direction.

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Pres '12

Poll: Gingrich Trails Obama In His Own Home State Of Georgia

Jon Terbush | April 5, 2011, 2:13PM

Pres. Barack Obama and Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich hasn't officially thrown his hat into the 2012 race, but if he were to get in, and indeed win the Republican presidential nomination, he wouldn't get much of a home state advantage in a general election against President Obama, according to a new PPP poll.

In that poll of registered voters, Obama topped Gingrich 46%-45% in a head-to-head matchup in Georgia, the state Gingrich represented for two decades in the House. Further, 50% said they didn't think Gingrich should run for president in the first place, while only 31% said he should.

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Barack Obama

Poll: Obama's Approval Rating With Young Voters Rises

Jon Terbush | April 1, 2011, 8:40AM

Strong support from young voters was crucial to President Obama's win in 2008. Now, as he gears up for reelection, a new poll from the Harvard University Institute of Politics shows Obama's approval rating among that demographic has risen since last year.

In the poll, 55% of adults aged 19-28 -- or, as the survey cals them, 'Millennials' -- said they approved of Obama's job performance, up six points since Harvard polled the question last October. That reverses a downward trend Harvard had found in their last three surveys, and it places Obama back near his standing last February, when 56% of young voters approved of his job performance.

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Barack Obama

Obama's Approval Drops In All States -- But Stays Strong Where It Counts

Jon Terbush | February 23, 2011, 10:50AM

President Barack Obama

The honeymoon is over for President Obama, as a Gallup poll released this morning shows that his approval rating fell in all 50 states over his second year in office when compared to the first one. Yet a closer look at the results reveals that Obama isn't really in such a dire position as that statistic alone makes it seem.

Yes, Obama's average approval rating was lower in every state last year than it was the year before. But that mainly reflects his approval rating having leveled off after the post-inaugural highs he enjoyed at the start of 2009.

At the time of his inauguration, Obama boasted a sparkling 66% approval rating nationwide, according to Gallup. Almost without exception, Gallup has found presidential approval ratings dipping after an inauguration, as presidents moved from campaigning to governing. Soon after his inauguration, Ronald Reagan's approval shot up to nearly 70%; at the end of year two, it was hovering around 40%.

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Barack Obama

What 'Shellacking'? Recent Polls Show Major Momentum For Obama

Jon Terbush | January 28, 2011, 8:50AM

President Barack Obama

Just two months ago, President Obama was reeling from his party's massive defeat in the midterm elections. He faced a number of critical legislative decisions, his approval numbers plummeted to the lowest levels of his presidency, and pundits began speculating whether he could survive a primary challenge in 2012.

Yet now, it seems like everything is coming up in Obama's favor. Buoyed by a surging approval rating, an improved economic outlook, and some popular legislative achievements, Obama is suddenly back on top.

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Pres '12

Obama Improves Standing In NC, Leads All 2012 GOP Challengers

Jon Terbush | January 25, 2011, 1:40PM

In 2008, President Obama became the first Democratic presidential nominee to carry North Carolina in 32 years. A new PPP poll now shows him gaining momentum toward taking that state again in 2012, with the President posting a positive approval rating there for the first time in a year and for the first time leading in hypothetical matchups with all four of the frontrunners for the GOP nomination.

In the poll, 49% of respondents said they approved of Obama's job performance, while 47% said they disapproved of the job he was doing. That's a five-point swing from last month, when North Carolinians disapproved of Obama by a 46% to 49% split, and it's the first time since December 2009 that Obama has held a net positive approval rating in the state.

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Barack Obama

He's Back? Obama's Approval Rating Surges In Recent Polls

Jon Terbush | January 14, 2011, 12:20PM

President Barack Obama (D)

Just two months removed from a midterm shellacking that saw the GOP win a whopping 63 seats in the House, President Obama's approval rating has suddenly spiked in recent polls, a change so significant that for the first time in eight months the President has a net positive approval rating in the TPM Poll Average.

In the current TPM Poll Average, Obama posts an approval rating of 47.9% compared to a disapproval rating of 47.3%. It marks the first time Obama has notched a net positive in the TPM average since May 18, when that split was 47.7% to 47.6%.

Virtually every pollster has tracked at least a nominal improvement in the President's approval rating over the last month or so, including a 13-point net approval swing in the latest Marist poll. And while it would be mere speculation to cite the surge as evidence that Obama has completely regained his mojo and that his approval will keep climbing, the turnaround is striking considering his standing as 2010 drew to a close.

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Barack Obama

Approval By Numbers: How Obama Compares To Past Presidents

Jon Terbush | December 9, 2010, 8:30AM

TPM Illustration

By some measures, it's been a rough first two years in office for President Obama, as the soaring rhetoric of his campaign speeches has given way to the unglamorous reality of governing. With the messy debate over health care reform and a slowly recovering economy steadily tugging his approval ratings down, it may seem like Obama is slipping toward a uniquely inglorious first term.

Yet despite all the chatter, Obama's slide in approval ratings is really nothing special.

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Tea Party

Poll: Americans Divided On Who Should Set Policy-- Obama Or The Tea Party

Marc Kilstein | November 24, 2010, 8:33AM

A Tea Party rally in Michigan.

Americans can't agree on who they want to "have the most influence on government policy next year," according to a newly released USA Today/Gallup poll. No surprise there. What may come as a surprise, however, is that at the top of the poll, the split is between respondents who want President Obama to set policy, and those who want Tea Partiers to take the lead in Washington.

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Polls

Gallup Fights Back: Fluctuating 'EKG' Of Tracking Poll Is From 'A Lot Going On'

Christina Bellantoni | December 8, 2009, 4:27PM

Robert Gibbs

In a blog titled "The Value of Daily Tracking," Gallup is hitting back at White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs suggesting today their presidential approval daily tracking poll could be drawn in crayon by a 6-year-old.

"I'm certain Gibbs didn't intend to impugn the value of presidential job approval polls in general. It appears he was reacting more to the fact that the president's approval numbers are not stable, but, in fact, in a period of some change," Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport wrote on the blog. "But this type of movement is the nature of the beast."

As we reported, Gibbs said: "If I was a heart patient and Gallup was my EKG, I'd visit my doctor."

Newport responded: "I think the doctor might ask him what's going on in his life that would cause his EKG to be fluctuating so much. There is, in fact, a lot going on at the moment -- the healthcare bill, the jobs summit, the Copenhagen Climate Conference, and Afghanistan."

He also suggests Obama's presidential campaign "paid a great deal of attention to their own tracking polls measuring how his candidacy was doing as the events of the campaign rocketed across the news each day."

Read Newport's post in full here.

Barack Obama

Why Is Obama Still Smiling? Look at the Polls

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2009, 12:50PM

President Barack Obama

A slew of recent polling data points to a conclusion that might have seemed hard to believe amidst the town hall craziness in the dog days of August and early September: President Obama's numbers have not only stabilized but actually seem to be showing a modest uptick. And by several other measures the political landscape for Democrats isn't nearly as bleak as it was being portrayed just a few weeks ago.

To be sure, the evidence is insufficient to point to any dramatic, long-run Obama resurgence -- at least for now. But there's enough data to conclude that August, rather than being a public support train-wreck for the president was actually an inflection point, when the downward trend flattened out, and
in some cases began crawling back upward.

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