NEW YORK: As most Americans think about summer vacations, barbecues and the beach, President Obama has other things on his mind, including the oil spill in the Gulf, a shift of military leaders in Afghanistan, the economic summit in Canada and, as since taking office, jobs and the economy.
And perhaps, because of all this, the President is now at his worst job ratings with only 39% of Americans giving him positive ratings on the overall job he is doing and 61% giving him negative marks. This is down from May when 42% gave him positive ratings and 58% negative ones.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,227 adults surveyed online between June 14 and 21, 2010 by Harris Interactive.
One problem for President Obama is that he is losing support from his base. Three in ten Democrats (29%) and Liberals (30%) give him negative ratings for the overall job he is doing. While it is not surprising that large numbers of Republicans (92%) and Conservatives (86%) give him negative ratings, two-thirds of Independents (68%) and almost three in five Moderates (58%) do so, as well.
There are also regional differences in how Americans view President Obama's job performance. Those in the East and West are more likely to give him positive ratings (43% and 41% respectively) while those in the South are more likely to give the president negative ratings (65%). The more education one has, the more likely they are to think President Obama is doing a good job. Just three in ten of those with a high school degree or less (31%) give the president positive ratings compared to 47% of college graduates and over half of those with a post-graduate education (53%).
Going hand in hand with the president's job numbers is how people think the country overall is doing. Just one-third of Americans (34%) believe the country is heading in the right direction while 66% say it is going off on the wrong track. This is down from last month when 36% said the country was heading in the right direction and 64% believed it was off on the right track.
In looking at the most important issues for the government to address, it is not surprising that economic issues rise to the top as almost three in ten Americans each say the most important issue for the government to address is the economy (28%) and employment/jobs (28%). Even though a reform bill has been signed into law, almost one-quarter (23%) say health care should be addressed. And, new to the list one in five Americans (20%) say the oil spill in the Gulf needs to be addressed.
So What?
It is a tough situation for any president to deal with, when faced with so many competing problems and being pulled in so many directions at once. For this president, one of the issues is that even when it appears he has a win, such as with health care reform, the battle was so costly that the win falls hollow. Now he and the White House are faced with congressional elections in just a few months, an angry electorate, and dwindling support among his own partisans. If the summer does not go well for President Obama and this continues to trickle down to Democrats across the country, there very well may be a new party in control of Congress in January.
TABLE 1
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S JOB RATING - TREND
"How would you rate the overall job President Barack Obama is doing?"
Base: All adults
|
|
| 2009
| 2010
|
|
| Mar
| April
| May
| June
| Aug
| Sept
| Oct
| Nov
| Dec
| Jan
| Mar
| April
| May
| June
|
|
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
|
|
POSITIVE
| 55
| 58
| 59
| 54
| 51
| 49
| 45
| 43
| 41
| 40
| 41
| 41
| 42
| 39
|
|
Excellent
| 17
| 18
| 17
| 14
| 11
| 11
| 10
| 9
| 7
| 9
| 9
| 9
| 10
| 6
|
|
Pretty good
| 38
| 40
| 42
| 39
| 39
| 38
| 35
| 33
| 33
| 31
| 32
| 31
| 32
| 33
|
|
NEGATIVE
| 45
| 42
| 41
| 46
| 49
| 51
| 55
| 57
| 59
| 60
| 59
| 59
| 58
| 61
|
|
Only fair
| 27
| 26
| 25
| 25
| 25
| 25
| 27
| 29
| 30
| 30
| 28
| 26
| 28
| 29
|
|
Poor
| 18
| 15
| 16
| 21
| 24
| 26
| 28
| 29
| 30
| 30
| 31
| 33
| 30
| 32
|
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE 2
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S JOB RATING – BY PARTY & IDEOLOGY
"How would you rate the overall job President Barack Obama is doing?"
Base: All adults
|
|
| Total
| Political party
| Political Philosophy
|
|
Rep.
| Dem.
| Ind.
| Cons.
| Mod.
| Lib.
|
|
%
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
|
|
POSITIVE
| 39
| 8
| 71
| 32
| 14
| 42
| 70
|
|
Excellent
| 6
| 1
| 12
| 4
| 5
| 4
| 12
|
|
Pretty good
| 33
| 7
| 58
| 29
| 9
| 38
| 58
|
|
NEGATIVE
| 61
| 92
| 29
| 68
| 86
| 58
| 30
|
|
Only fair
| 29
| 27
| 24
| 34
| 24
| 35
| 25
|
|
Poor
| 32
| 64
| 6
| 34
| 62
| 23
| 6
|
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE 3
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S JOB RATING – BY REGION, EDUCATION & GENDER
"How would you rate the overall job President Barack Obama is doing?"
Base: All adults
|
|
| Total
| Region
| Education
| Gender
|
|
East
| Midwest
| South
| West
| H.S. or less
| Some college
| College grad
| Post grad
| Men
| Women
|
|
%
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
|
|
POSITIVE
| 39
| 43
| 39
| 35
| 41
| 31
| 41
| 47
| 53
| 36
| 42
|
|
Excellent
| 6
| 6
| 4
| 7
| 7
| 6
| 5
| 6
| 10
| 5
| 7
|
|
Pretty good
| 33
| 37
| 35
| 29
| 34
| 25
| 35
| 41
| 43
| 31
| 35
|
|
NEGATIVE
| 61
| 57
| 61
| 65
| 59
| 69
| 59
| 53
| 47
| 64
| 58
|
|
Only fair
| 29
| 32
| 32
| 28
| 27
| 32
| 29
| 27
| 24
| 28
| 30
|
|
Poor
| 32
| 25
| 29
| 37
| 32
| 38
| 30
| 26
| 23
| 36
| 28
|
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE 4
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR GOVERNMENT to address
"What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to address?"
Spontaneous, unprompted replies
Base: All adults
|
|
| '97
| '98
| '99
| '00
| '01
| '02
| '03
| '04
| '05
| '06
| 07
| 08
| 09
| 09
| 09
| 09
| 10
| 10
| 10
|
|
May
| Jan
| Feb
| Aug
| Dec
| Dec
| June
| Oct
| Aug
| June
| Oct
| Oct
| Jan
| Mar
| Sept
| Nov
| Jan
| Apr
| June
|
|
%
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
| %
|
|
Employment/jobs
| 5
| 3
| 4
| 4
| 7
| 8
| 8
| 10
| 3
| 7
| 5
| 5
| 20
| 21
| 21
| 24
| 31
| 34
| 28
|
|
The economy (non-specific)
| 8
| 9
| 7
| 5
| 32
| 34
| 25
| 28
| 19
| 14
| 13
| 64
| 59
| 50
| 36
| 34
| 32
| 27
| 28
|
|
Healthcare (not Medicare)
| 10
| 11
| 12
| 15
| 5
| 10
| 14
| 18
| 11
| 12
| 25
| 22
| 16
| 25
| 55
| 47
| 45
| 34
| 23
|
|
Oil Spill in Gulf/BP oil spill
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| x
| 20
|
|
Immigration
| 2
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 3
| 20
| 12
| 3
| 2
| 4
| 8
| 5
| 5
| 7
| 12
|
|
Budget/Government spending
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 5
| 6
| 2
| 6
| 6
| 12
| 11
| 7
| 9
| 10
|
|
Budget deficit/National debt
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| *
| 3
| X
| X
| X
| 8
| 8
|
|
Environment
| 3
| 2
| 3
| 3
| 1
| 3
| 2
| 1
| 3
| 3
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 3
| 3
| 4
| 3
| 3
| 7
|
|
Education
| 15
| 14
| 21
| 25
| 12
| 11
| 13
| 7
| 8
| 7
| 6
| 6
| 5
| 5
| 7
| 5
| 5
| 6
| 6
|
|
(The) war
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 12
| 18
| 8
| 35
| 41
| 27
| 24
| 14
| 15
| 9
| 5
| 9
| 2
| 6
| 6
|
|
Energy
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 4
| 1
| 4
| 2
| 3
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 5
|
|
Taxes
| 14
| 16
| 12
| 13
| 6
| 5
| 11
| 8
| 5
| 4
| 3
| 6
| 5
| 4
| 5
| 4
| 4
| 7
| 4
|
|
Terrorism
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 22
| 17
| 11
| 7
| 7
| 4
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 4
| 2
| 3
| 6
| 2
| 3
|
|
Regulating banking/financial services industries
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| *
| 1
| 8
| 2
| 1
| 3
| 4
| 2
|
|
National security
| X
| X
| 2
| 2
| 6
| 3
| 6
| 5
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 5
| 4
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 3
| 2
|
|
Downsizing government
| X
| X
| X
| 1
| *
| X
| X
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 3
| 2
|
|
Iraq
| *
| *
| 1
| X
| X
| 11
| 3
| 9
| 6
| 8
| 14
| 7
| 4
| 2
| 3
| 4
| 2
| 2
| 2
|
|
Foreign policy (non-specific)
| 3
| 5
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 4
| 2
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 4
| 2
| 3
| 3
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 2
|
|
Domestic/social issues (non-specific)
| 2
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 3
| 3
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 2
|
|
Social security
| 6
| 6
| 24
| 16
| 3
| 2
| 4
| 4
| 10
| 5
| 3
| 3
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 2
|
|
(Programs for) the poor/ poverty
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 3
| 1
| 2
| 3
| *
| 4
| 4
| 4
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 1
|
|
Human/civil/women's rights
| 2
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 2
| *
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
|
|
Religion (decline of)
| *
| 1
| *
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| *
| *
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
|
|
Obama/president
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 1
| *
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
|
Honesty/Integrity/Moral Values
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
|
|
Ethics in government
| *
| *
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
|
Welfare
| 14
| 8
| 4
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 3
| *
| 3
| 1
| 2
| *
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
|
|
Homeland/domestic security/public safety
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 8
| 9
| 3
| 6
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
|
Military/defense
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 4
| 4
| 1
| 5
| 3
| 1
| 4
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
|
Housing
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 1
| 1
| *
| *
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 3
| 6
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
|
Judicial/Legal Issues
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| *
| 2
| 1
| 1
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
|
Same sex rights
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 1
| 1
| 2
| *
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
|
|
Crime/violence
| 19
| 13
| 8
| 10
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 1
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 2
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
|
|
Gas and oil prices
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 1
| 1
| 10
| 8
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| *
|
|
Peace/world peace/nuclear arms
| 1
| 3
| 3
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 3
| *
| 1
| 1
| 2
| *
| 1
| *
| 1
| *
| *
| 1
| *
|
|
Drugs
| 8
| 6
| 2
| 5
| 2
| 3
| 3
| *
| 2
| 1
| 3
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| *
| *
| 1
| *
|
|
Medicare
| 4
| 5
| 5
| 6
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 1
| 3
| 2
| 1
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
|
|
Middle East peace process between Palestinians and Israel
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 2
| 2
| 2
| *
| 1
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| *
| *
| *
| *
|
|
Homelessness
| 4
| 4
| 3
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 1
| *
| 1
| 1
| 3
| *
| 1
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| *
|
|
Socialism agenda/country's socialism
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| *
| 1
| *
| *
|
|
Inflation
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| X
| 1
| 2
| 3
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| 1
| *
| *
| *
|
|
Abortion
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 6
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
| *
|
|
Programs for the elderly (not Medicare/Social Security)
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 3
| *
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
|
|
Second Amendment (right to bear arms)
| X
| *
| *
| *
| *
| X
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
| X
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
| *
| x
|
|
Family values (decline of)
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 1
| *
| *
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| *
| *
| *
| *
| X
| *
| *
| x
|
|
Other(1)
| 8
| 19
| 2
| 19
| 3
| 8
| 8
| 8
| 1
| 6
| 5
| 15
| 2
| 5
| 1
| 3
| 1
| 3
| 2
|
|
Not sure/refused/no issue
| 9
| 12
| 16
| 18
| 11
| 10
| 12
| 9
| 8
| 6
| 8
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 3
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 4
|
|
* = Less than 0.5%, X = Not mentioned as specific issue
(1) Including prescription drug prices, credit problems, trade, disability, corporate scandals, youth and government (other)
Note: Prior to March, 2009, this question was asked via telephone
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE 5
RIGHT DIRECTION OR WRONG TRACK
"Generally speaking, would you say things in the country are going in the right direction or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?"
Base: All adults
|
|
| TREND
| Right Direction
| Wrong Track
|
|
%
| %
|
|
2010
| June
| 34
| 66
|
|
| May
| 36
| 64
|
|
April
| 39
| 61
|
|
March
| 33
| 67
|
|
January
| 37
| 63
|
|
2009
| December
| 37
| 63
|
|
| August
| 46
| 54
|
|
June
| 43
| 57
|
|
March
| 32
| 68
|
|
January
| 19
| 72
|
|
2008
| October
| 11
| 83
|
|
| February
| 23
| 69
|
|
2007
| December
| 18
| 74
|
|
| February
| 29
| 62
|
|
2006
| May
| 24
| 69
|
|
| February
| 32
| 59
|
|
2005
| November
| 27
| 68
|
|
| January
| 46
| 48
|
|
2004
| September
| 38
| 57
|
|
| June
| 35
| 59
|
|
2003
| December
| 35
| 57
|
|
| June
| 44
| 51
|
|
2002
| December
| 36
| 57
|
|
| June
| 46
| 48
|
|
2001
| December
| 65
| 32
|
|
| June
| 43
| 52
|
|
2000
| October
| 50
| 41
|
|
| June
| 40
| 51
|
|
1999
| June
| 37
| 55
|
|
| March
| 47
| 45
|
|
1998
| December
| 43
| 51
|
|
| June
| 48
| 44
|
|
1997
| December
| 39
| 56
|
|
| April
| 36
| 55
|
|
1996
| December
| 38
| 50
|
|
| June
| 29
| 64
|
|
1995
| December
| 26
| 62
|
|
| June
| 24
| 65
|
|
1994
| December
| 29
| 63
|
|
| June
| 28
| 65
|
|
1993
| June
| 21
| 70
|
|
| March
| 39
| 50
|
|
1992
| June
| 12
| 81
|
|
| January
| 20
| 75
|
|
1991
| December
| 17
| 75
|
|
| January
| 58
| 32
|
|
Note: Prior to March, 2009 this question was asked via telephone
|
|
|
|
|
|
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between June 14 to 21, 2010 among 2,227 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.
J38301
Q1205, 1208, 1210
The Harris Poll® #81, June 25, 2010
By Regina A. Corso, Director, The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.
