Obama Faces Public Unease on Afghanistan and Health Care

President Obama faces significant doubts among Americans when it comes to issues that are on his front burner, Afghanistan and health care reform, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted Sept. 17-20.

The public is not confident that the war in Afghanistan will come to a successful conclusion. Fifty-nine percent say they are less confident compared to 28 percent who are more confident. Forty-nine percent said the war so far has been somewhat or very unsuccessful compared to 46 percent who see it as very or somewhat successful.

Opposition to increasing troop levels in Afghanistan stands at 51 percent compared to 44 percent who favor sending more soldiers. That said, Americans oppose an immediate withdrawal of troops by 55 percent to 38 percent.

The Afghanistan results mirror those in two other polls released today by the Pew Research Center and Fox News.

Americans split on Obama's handling of health care reform with 46 percent disapproving and 45 percent approving, but that's better than the August numbers for Obama when 47 percent disapproved and 41 percent approved. Republicans get panned on the issue with 65 percent disapproving of how they are handling it and 21 percent approving. They also split when asked if they think Obama's health care reform plan is a good or bad idea, with 41 percent calling it a bad idea and 39 percent a good idea. Seventeen percent had no opinion. Thirty-six percent believe the quality of their health care will get worse under Obama's plan, 34 percent say it will stay about the same and 19 percent say it will get better.

When it comes to economic stimulus, those polled said by 62 percent to 30 percent that the President and Congress should worry more about keeping the deficit down than boosting the economy.

Democrats lost some significant ground in terms of who Americans want to see controlling Congress after next year's elections. Forty-three percent choose the Democrats compared to 40 percent for the Republicans and 17 percent undecided, a lead that is within the poll's margin of error. In July, Americans wanted a Democratic-controlled Congress by 46 percent to 39 percent.

Democrats are viewed very or somewhat positively by 41 percent and somewhat or very negatively by 39 percent with 18 percent declaring themselves neutral. Republicans are viewed very or somewhat positively by 28 percent and somewhat or very negatively by 43 percent with 27 percent neutral. But those who view the Democrats very positively amount to 14 percent for the Democrats and while 5 percent see the Republicans very positively.

Twenty-two percent say the unwillingness to compromise and find middle ground is the fault of Republicans compared to 15 percent who finger the Democrats. Sixty-one percent say it is equally the fault of both parties.

Looking at the public perceptions of Obama, 54 percent of those polled said they are only somewhat or not at all confident that Obama has the right set of goals and policies as President compared to 45 percent who are extremely or quite confident that he does. That is not much changed since July.

Forty-six percent like Obama personally and approve of most of his policies, 31 percent like him personally but disapprove of many policies, and 18 percent don't like either him or his policies. Again, these figures are about where they were in July.