Polls

[classicman]

For my new friend Redux. . . A poll

Assessing Obama’s Job Approval

at the One-Month Mark

PRINCETON, NJ -- President Barack Obama remains highly popular among the U.S. public at the end of his first month in office. However, the 63% of Americans currently approving of his job performance is down slightly from his initial 68% rating in January. The percentage disapproving has doubled, from 12% to 24%.



Increased public disapproval of Obama over the past month is mainly offset by a decrease in the percentage of Americans saying they have no opinion of his job performance. The latest figures are based on Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Feb. 19-21.


These shifts result in a slightly different profile for Obama relative to past presidents than what he enjoyed in the immediate afterglow of his inauguration. While Obama's initial 68% job approval rating was one of the highest in Gallup polling history (from Dwight Eisenhower through George W. Bush), his current 63% job approval rating is typical of how the last several presidents have fared at the one-month mark.



According to Gallup polling on all elected presidents from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush (this excludes Gerald Ford, who assumed office after Nixon resigned), the range of job approval for new presidents after about a month in office extends from 55% for Ronald Reagan to 71% for Jimmy Carter. The average one-month approval rating for all six past presidents is 62% -- nearly identical to Obama's current 63%.

The average first-month disapproval rating for these same past presidents was 16%. However, Obama's slightly higher 24% disapproval score is similar to those seen for the most recent two presidents -- Bush and Bill Clinton -- perhaps owing to heightened partisanship or media scrutiny in recent years.

Obama has not retained his initial level of job approval mainly because rank-and-file Republicans -- who already lagged well behind Democrats in their approval of Obama in January -- have quickly become even more critical.

According to weekly aggregates of Gallup Poll Daily tracking interviews, Obama has lost no support from Democrats and independents since taking office, but his approval rating from Republicans has dropped steadily week by week, from 41% at the start of his term to just 30% today.

Looks like a fairly typical honeymoon, despite having to cope with the unprecedented economic gloom he inherited from his predecessor. A slippage in Republican support is not surprising, given the daily vitriol from the right that accompanies every move he makes.

Expect a small spike in his approval after his national TV address to Congress tonight (a mini "state of the union")

And with the Democrats in Congress still holding a 15% point advantage over Republicans in approval ratings.....all is good!

The latest NY TImes poll:

President Obama is benefiting from remarkably high levels of optimism and confidence among Americans about his leadership, providing him with substantial political clout as he confronts the nation’s economic challenges and opposition from nearly all Republicans in Congress, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

A majority of people surveyed in both parties said Mr. Obama was striving to work in a bipartisan way, but most faulted Republicans for their response to the president.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/us...l.html?_r=1&hp

Republicans should look closely at the public sentiment......79% want the Republicans to work with Obama in a more bi-partisan manner...in other words, the Republican whining and mischaracterizations of the stimulus bill is not working to their advantage.

And for classic and merc.....a good explanation of how the poll was conducted

[classicman]

I already read that, but thanks.
Kind of interesting to note that both Bushes had better ratings relative to Obama. I know the circumstances are different, but still.

[TheMercenary]

Good link, that sums it up pretty well. The opinions of 1000 Americans who own telephones can't be easily extrapolted to the population as a whole more than a random sample of 0.0001% of a sample of people who regularly participate on The Cellar.

In addition to sampling error, the practical difficulties of conducting any survey of public opinion may introduce other sources of error into the poll. Variation in the wording and order of questions, for example, may lead to somewhat different results.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/us...1&ref=politics

Heck of a speech:

Probably inflated due to Obama's ability to reach through the TV screen and into the minds of the adoring star struck masses

[classicman]

Yes it was - quite inspiring actually. I hope the follow through is as good as the promises. He set the bar really high for himself and his administration. We all knew te man was a great orator. Only time will tell if he can actually get it done. I, for one, really hope so.

[classicman]

Do you think pork-laden bills "will not
happen" as Obama's budget director
Peter Orszag says?
Yes
No

Yes 23% 4044
No 77% 13485
Total Votes: 17529

[TheMercenary]

[sugarpop]

Originally Posted by classicman

Do you think pork-laden bills "will not
happen" as Obama's budget director
Peter Orszag says?
Yes
No

Yes 23% 4044
No 77% 13485
Total Votes: 17529

I think both parties will fight it. Some republicans have been going on TV complaining about the earmarks in the budget when some of those earmarks are theirs. When asked about it, every one of them said that their earmarks were different. They weren't really earmarks, or they were "good" projects that are needed for their states. They somehow think they are special, and they deserve their earmarks, but no one else does. Well, I'm sure they all feel that way. I find that hysterical.

[classicman]

This is the poll thread. The poll was a representation of an extremely poorly worded poll and why some question their validity.



Yeh they are all special - uh huh
Take to the bailout thread (thread nazi) lol