AP poll: Economic Worries Pose New Snags for Obama
- Posted on June 23, 2011 at 5:14am by
Scott Baker
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Increasingly troubled by the economy, more Americans are convinced the country is headed in the wrong direction and fewer approve of President Barack Obama’s economic stewardship. The sentiments pose a new complication for the president’s re-election hopes and create an obstacle to a recovery that relies in part on public perceptions.
For the first time this year, less than 50 percent of respondents to an Associated Press-GfK poll say Obama deserves re-election. The new poll shows a virtual split of 48-47 in favor, raising a new hurdle for the president as economic concerns strip away the gloss he briefly gained in May after the death of Osama bin Laden.
What’s more, four out of five now believe the economy is in poor shape, with 36 percent calling it “very poor,” a new high in AP-GfK polling.
The survey findings track with recent independent data that show a dip in consumer confidence, and they reflect the May uptick in unemployment and a stubbornly depressed housing market. Amid anemic hiring, high gas prices and financial turmoil in Europe, Americans are increasingly interested in saving — not spending — their money, adding yet another constraint to the economic recovery.
Yet, 16 months before the November 2012 elections, Obama also is perceived favorably by 56 percent of respondents and 52 percent approve of his job performance overall. Despite the overwhelming sentiment that the national economy is in poor shape, more than three of five of those polled rated the financial situation of their own households as good. And, echoing previous findings, about three-quarters of the survey participants said it is unrealistic to expect noticeable results on the economy in one term.
For Obama, the poll results are a mixed appraisal. In many ways they show him returning to the public ratings he faced before bin Laden’s death created a spike of approval. As such, they indicate a certain resilience — an ability to hold steady even as economic indicators worsen.
But the new AP-GfK poll also reveals trouble spots for Obama.
It shows a sharp spike in concern about unemployment. Overall, 86 percent call it extremely or very important, the highest level since just before the 2010 elections. Nearly four in 10 expect there to be an increase in the number of people unemployed in the country over the next year, while just 23 percent say they expect unemployment to drop. In previous AP-GfK polling, those figures had been about even.
Obama has hit new unwelcome highs — in public disapproval over his handling of the economy in general and unemployment in particular — according to the poll. In addition, more disapprove of his handling of health care and the federal budget deficit than in the past.
The erosion of approval is primarily among women. Last month, 57 percent said they felt he deserved re-election, a figure that dipped to 48 percent this month. The decline came almost entirely among white women, just 37 percent of whom say Obama deserves re-election in the new poll. He also lost support among self-described independents, from 62 percent approval last month to 43 percent now, his lowest since June 2010.
With the economy clearly looming as the top political issue in his re-election, the president has been traveling every week for months to campaign battleground states to promote job initiatives. He acknowledges the sluggishness of the recovery, illustrated by May’s uptick in unemployment.
The price of gasoline at the pump has declined a bit recently though it is still nearly 90 cents higher on average than a year ago. White House officials are also monitoring the precarious fiscal situation in Greece, where a default by the government could send damaging financial tremors across world markets.
“I just think that he’s not doing his job the way he should be,” said Mary Perrine, a grandmother of three from West Lafayette, Ind., who said she has struggled to pay her bills.
Obama faced 59 percent disapproval on his handling of the economy and on unemployment. The steepest decrease was among respondents with incomes above $50,000. In May, 53 percent approved of his efforts to fight unemployment; in June, 36 percent approved.
“I kind of sit on the fence about it,” Paul Fenger, a Cottonwood, Minn., farmer said about Obama’s job performance.
“I think he is trying to do a good job, but the information isn’t getting out, and Congress — the Republicans and Democrats — aren’t working together.”
Obama may have to count on the likes of John Holdnak, a Florida Department of Education administrator, who didn’t vote for him in 2008 but believes “he has really stepped up to do this job.”
Does Obama deserve re-election? “I don’t know yet. A lot of things can happen now and between the election that could be his fault. At this particular juncture, he hasn’t done anything in my mind not to be re-elected,” said Holdnak, one of the survey participants.
The poll was conducted June 16-20 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,001 adults nationwide and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
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Associated Press Polling Director Trevor Tompson, Deputy Polling Director Jennifer Agiesta and AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.
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CherryBerry
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 2:17pmLOL ya think?
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 8:58amSYMBOLSOFFA:
You are disgusting. Because a man is lucrative in his business and is a Jew he is not worthy of humanity? You are a racist, a disgusting person and I profess a hater of the Jewish people. God blesses His people with brains and for that they are hated? Sorry, you are of your father Satan.
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 8:51amAre people that stupid? Who has been in control for all of these years? Dumbocrats/Progressives/Socialists.
The Dems have controlled both Houses since 2007, regardless of what the MSM professes and to blame Repubs for the financial collapse is nuts. Thank you, Fannie and Freddie.
Report Post »symbolsofa
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 3:15amWASHINGTON, GEORGE, in Maxims of George Washington by A. A. Appleton & Co.
Report Post »“They (the Jews) work more effectively against us, than the enemy’s armies. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties and the great cause we are engaged in… It is much to be lamented that each state, long ago, has not hunted them down as pest to society and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of America.”
AMERICANS WILL REALIZE ONE DAY HOW JEWS HAVE DESTROYED THEIR ECONOMY AND PUSHED THE WHOLE AMERICAN CHRISTIANS IN BANKRUPTCY BY THEIR CUNNING AND DECEITFUL NATURE.
“In the U.S. cotton states, after the war… the Jew came down in force, set up shop on the plantation, supplied all the Negroes’ wants on credit, and at the end of the season was the proprietor of the *****’s share of the present crop and part of the next one. Before long, the whites detested the Jew. (1)
The Jew is being legislated out of Russia. The reason is not concealed. The movement was instituted because the Christian peasant stood no chance against his commercial abilities. The Jew was always ready to lend on a crop. When settlement day came, he owned the crop; the next year he owned the farm – like Joseph. (2)
In the England of John’s time everybody got into debt to the Jew. He gathered all lucrative enterprises into his hands. He was the King of Commerce. He had to be banished from the realm. For like reasons, Spain had to banish him 400 years ago, and Austria a couple of centuries later.
miles from nowhere
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 5:00pmGee! Do you think? The ignorant Democrat Senators are trying to blame this on the GOP through the liberal biased media, what a bunch of stupid idiots. The GOP is not in power and has not been for along time. Democrat Lying Senators and stupid lying leftist media!
Report Post »michael48
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 4:47pmget ready for “Oblamo” to start…Blame…Blah..Blah….and of course “ANYONE” who’ happens to be walking down the street…it’s his fault….typical dem-wit preschooler…I DIDN’T DO IT….this tard is either mentally ill or a crack head…possibly BOTH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »olderthandirt10
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 3:56pmIt is difficult to believe that there are some in this country who still believe that Obama is doing a good job! Either there are Americans still asleep when it comes to the future of this country or this particular poll is bought and paid for by the far left. I am awake and aware. Most of the readers of this site seem to be as well. But I gotta tell you; from the responses of some folks, they have yet to hear and or read that our country is in the worst recession since the great depression, and that this administration has made all the wrong moves in addressing the problems!
Report Post »Stu Pedaso
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 3:51pmDelta River
Report Post »I love the post. How do we get them to relinquish the power? The states should have more power, but I do not see the “STATE” letting go. Voting with the ammo box if this bum tries something stupid in October.
Delta_River_Folk
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:52pmThe SOLUTION to our Nation’s Fiscal Policy is Simple:
1) Shift up to 70 % of Washington D.C.’s spending habits back to individual States (e.g., Health and Human Services, Housing, Education, Energy, Agriculture, Labor, Social Security, etc..), then let States decide how to spend the money collected from its citizens
2) Stop all tax collection by the Federal Government, and mandate that only individual States shall collect taxes from citizens (as originally outlined in the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme court on several occasions)
3) Individual States will send enough money to Washington D.C. to cover the spending not delegated to the states in Step (1) above (e.g., National Defense, Foreign Diplomacy, those items originally outlined in the Constitution)
4) Set Back and watch: States grow, Washington D.C. corruption slow down, backroom deals disappear, and our Nation prosper
We are called the United States, not the United State
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:10pmonly morons would still approve of this failure……………and those taking handouts with no real moral character.
the reason i specify those on handouts, is there are many that actually need it thanks to odumbo but realize that it would be better if they didnt need the hand out
the morons that are doing nothing to get off the handouts will always vote for the one giving them out
Report Post »STAR SPANGLED SPAMMER
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:48pmOver 50% approval for Obama? LOOOL! yeah sure. See you at the polls Obama
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:27pmHope and Change, baby, Hope and Change.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 3:11pm@TexascommonSense:
The only Hope and Change I want to see is the eviction of Obama and his czars, his administration, the progressives and socialist of both sides, and the restoration of this nation….God can do, and I feel is doing miracles in this land; we just have a tough time yet to make it.
My major concern now is the administration will engineer an October Suprise to make a final sweep in gaining absolute control, and declare martial law and such to where they are in power forever more.
People like Pelosi, Reid, and Obama will, when they see it is end game for them, cut loose with it all and try to take everything down in one shot.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 1:28pmWTH? “The erosion of approval is primarily among women. Last month, 57 percent said they felt he deserved re-election, a figure that dipped to 48 percent this month. The decline came almost entirely among white women, just 37 percent of whom say Obama deserves re-election in the new poll. He also lost support among self-described independents, from 62 percent approval last month to 43 percent now, his lowest since June 2010.” What gas pipe were these ladies been breathing from? 30 days ago 57 percent felt like he “DESERVED” re-election? OMG< OMG< OMG!! Susan B. Anthony my fanny! Then someone reached in and turned the light on in the closet! Now, 30 days later only, 37 percent say he deserves re-election? WTH<WTH<WTH? Can you say you understand women? Not me!
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