For the second month in a row we find Barack Obama's national approval rating at 49%, with 47% of voters disapproving of him. He has the support of 83% of Democrats, 46% of independents, and 11% of Republicans. None of those numbers have really changed from our November poll.
Support for Obama on health care has hit another new low with just 39% of voters now expressing approval of his health care plans and 52% opposed. 90% of respondents who said they were opposed to Obama's plan said it was because it involved the government too much in health care with just 6% saying their opposition was because it didn't create enough government involvement. This would seem to refute other recent polling that suggested a large amount of opposition to Obama on health care was coming from the left.
Obama gets better marks on Afghanistan with 47% of voters saying they support his approach there to 37% who are opposed. Not surprisingly he gets more support from Republicans on this issue than health care (30% compared to 5%) and less from Democrats (63% compared to 69%). His Afghanistan stance isn't doing anything to help his overall standing with GOP voters though- even among those who say they agree with him on this issue his approval rating is only 13%.
Perhaps the greatest measure of Obama's declining support is that just 50% of voters now say they prefer having him as President to George W. Bush, with 44% saying they'd rather have his predecessor. Given the horrendous approval ratings Bush showed during his final term that's somewhat of a surprise and an indication that voters are increasingly placing the blame on Obama for the country's difficulties instead of giving him space because of the tough situation he inherited. The closeness in the Obama/Bush numbers also has implications for the 2010 elections. Using the Bush card may not be particularly effective for Democrats anymore, which is good news generally for Republicans and especially ones like Rob Portman who are running for office and have close ties to the former President.
Finally 20% of voters, including 35% of Republicans, support impeaching Obama for his actions so far. I'm not clear exactly what 'high crimes and misdemeanors' they are using to justify that position but there may be a certain segment of voters on both the right and the left these days that simply think the President doing things they don't agree with is grounds for removal from office. I don't think Obama has a lot to worry about on that front.
Full results here
obama will be out of office in2012 so these polls are useless.
ReplyDeleteSure and Sarah Palin's ghost writer will have Levi Johnston's love child
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of ghost writers ... did you see Bill Ayers (the man that wrote "The Audacity of Hope") was out protesting Obama the other night.
ReplyDeleteCount me as one of the 44% who would prefer President Bush!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are the same people who voted for Bush, twice.They don't like when corps were bailed out but like when corps are subsidized with tax payer dollars. They are happy to see incomes fall over last 8 years but complain when there own job is jeopardized. There is no reasoning with them. It's a big embarrassment, the world laughs and I don't blame it.
ReplyDeleteGiven the margin last November, I don't see why it's news that Obama leads Bush 50-44. McCain was Bush III.
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised in the UK, and I really don't give a crap what they, the French or anyone else think of us, and I'm amazed at Americans who do. It's not as if they care what we think. We have zero obligation to care about them--especially if you're part of the isolationist left who doesn't want us involved in international issues, except, of course, when it's convenient.
ReplyDeleteLaura: Yet, you don't seem to have a problem the other way--disliking Bush's bailouts, but approving of 0bama's, disliking Bush's troop surge, but liking 0bama's...blatant hypocrisy from all his supporters.
It's pretty obvious they're just racist.
I didn't vote for George W. Bush and am not particularly in favor of a rehabilitation of his reputation, but such rehabilitation has certainly been facilitated by the policies and practices of the present Administration.
ReplyDeleteFor political success, Obama's domestic “social” policies should have been those of the actual political center; his policy on climate should have embraced scientific method instead of spurious state-control “consensus”; and his foreign policy should been firm but reälistic and polite, instead of hesitant, shiny, and obsequious.
"Given the margin last November, I don't see why it's news that Obama leads Bush 50-44. McCain was Bush III."
ReplyDeleteLast November wasn't it about 80-20 Obama vs Bush? Yes, Obama did seem like he was running against Bush when made all of those elquent promises.
Now that we are finally able to see a track record for Obama it's not surprising that momentum is heavily against him.
If Obama had run against anyone other than John McCain he would have lost.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Alan Keyes and NOT becasue he's a black man. It doesn't matter! You have to vote for the person who is going to help our country prosper and stay on track with American ideals.
Obama road in on a wave of liberal guilt. Hope we've learned.
The 'high crimes and misdemeanors' that beg impeachment of Obama is that he has not done what his oath of office says, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
ReplyDeleteHis administration has consistently disregarded the Constitution. What political circus is the terrorist trial in NYC intended to serve? What is the intent of 'healthcare reform' that does not address majority concern with insurance coverage and cost, but institutes draconian, bureaucratic standard of care and criminalizes anyone who does not sign up? What is the intent of the EPA CO2 regulation and how many ways will it damage our economy and suppress individual freedom? How will the outcome of Copenhagen obligate US taxpayers -- without our consent and dubious representation?
This man is undermining the foundational premises and documents of this nation, and he should be held accountable.
"This one" is already a lame duck president so early. What else is new?
ReplyDeleteObama please go back to being a community organizer. You never should have been elected president with no history of success.
ReplyDeleteObama is looking more and more like a one term president.
ReplyDeleteVerily, Americans are dumb. They are so dumb that they cannot see how dumb they are.
ReplyDeleteThe image of the average American - to the outside world - used to be that of a psychotic playground bully.
The image of the average American - to the outside world - has now become that of an inbred, toothless, ignorant hillbilly stunned by the 21st century.
Unable to comprehend that the world has moved on without it.
The "conservatives" in America's midst have not done America proud.
Look at some of the other numbers in this poll and you'll see just how informed the "general public" (whatever that means) being sampled here is. For example, 20% said they thought Obama should be impeached, with 13% saying they were "unsure" about the question. Really? Impeached? OK, you disapprove of him and don't think he deserved the peace prize, but impeached? For what? There hasn't been the slightest legitimate hint of scandal surrounding this administration. What could he possibly be impeached for?
ReplyDeleteSo this poll serves as no surprise to me, because the people being polled clearly aren't connected with reality.
Although I would want some better than Bush, I would definately take him over Obama. Obama has just been a disaster. I can't understand how Dems can criticize Bush for his big spending ways when Obama' MASSIVE spending dwarfs Bush's spending. I guess it's because his spending goes to liberal interests and to creating a massive welfare state. I also trust Bush a LOT more when it comes to protecting the country.
ReplyDeleteAnd honestly, screw what the rest of the outside world thinks of us. This Democrat BS about "trying to regain our reputation in the world" is just as stupid and silly as a teenager trying to be the most popular kid in school.
"I can't understand how Dems can criticize Bush for his big spending ways when Obama' MASSIVE spending dwarfs Bush's spending. I guess it's because his spending goes to liberal interests and to creating a massive welfare state. I also trust Bush a LOT more when it comes to protecting the country."
ReplyDeleteWell, you may have your facts wrong.
Obama policies account for only 19% of the budget increase for 2009
41% of the increase was directly a result of Bush policies.
The link is to a pie chart graph.
I guess all the patriotic constitutionalists posting here als wanted to also impeach Mr. Bush, who actually did commit high crimes and misdemeanors.
http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/spending.jpg
Does anyone else commenting here have a brain besides myself? I would think not by reading these posts...
ReplyDeletePut me down as a vote for Bush. I miss him more every day.
ReplyDeleteWhoda thunk it? (Just wanted to confirm that I am indeed one of the red state illiterati.)
President Obama would have beaten anyone, Make changes in your life Bush didn't do crap in my opinion! And Cheryl wake up if you think President Obama will be out of office 2012, he will serve 8 thank you. The man came into mess and he is cleaning it up. What more do you want, let President Obama run the country and you get a grip on life!
ReplyDeleteObama's first year in office has been a total failure. He has no chance in 2012. He has been an embarrassment and everyone is tired of him blaming Bush for his failures. Even Dems are tired of this lame excuse. He made promises he couldn't keep and is bankrupting our country. How can we have hope that our commander in chief will stand up to terrorists when he can't even stand up to Fox news?
ReplyDelete"I'm not clear exactly what 'high crimes and misdemeanors' they are using to justify that position..."
ReplyDeleteHow about grand larceny for the forced transfer of wealth from those who can least afford it to the multi-billionaires who control the banking, auto and insurance companies?
Nettie said...
ReplyDeleteYou guys are crazy, I bet you can't control your homes you find it hard just to do that and want the President to do everythoing in one year when in my opinion Bush mess up 8 years. Is it the man or his skin color? Wwhatever it may be let the man lead and stop finding fault. That's why the world is so hard to live in when it's people like you. Have a great New Year and pray for success, try that!!!!
Did anyone stop to see where the polling took place? If you look at the bottom of the poll it's addressed in North Carolina.....Where most of the voters are republican....Out of 1200 people. Hmmmm, people should look into those kinds of thing before saying this actually means anything:)
ReplyDelete