Support Tails Off for Obama on Afghanistan and Health Care

The two most contentious issues facing President Obama right now are health care reform and Afghanistan. Americans approve of his handling of health care by a bare 47 percent to 45 percent and back him on Afghanistan by 44 percent to 35 percent with 21 percent undecided, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll conducted Sept. 19-23. The margin of error is 3 percentage percent.

But Obama's support on his handling of Afghanistan is down from the 48 percent to 30 percent margin he had in late August and the 58 percent to 21 percent level he enjoyed in April. The poll comes in advance of the decision he has to make about whether to honor Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for more troops, something that a Gallup poll today say most Americans – and a big majority of Obama's fellow Democrats – oppose.

The Times poll says 32 percent want to decrease troops, 29 percent favor increasing troops and 27 percent believe the U.S. should keep the levels where they are. Fifty-three percent believe things are going somewhat or very badly in Afghanistan compared to 35 percent who say they are going very or somewhat well (only 3 percent say very well).

On health care, Obama has turned around a negative public view on his handling of the issue. In August, as angry town hall meetings raged around the country, Americans disapproved of Obama on the issue by 47 percent to 40 percent.

But Obama clearly has had a problem articulating the need for reforming the system, despite a speech to Congress and his recent television talk show blitz. Fifty-five percent say he hasn't clearly explained his plans compared to 37 percent who say he has. One consolation for Obama: 76 percent said congressional Republicans haven't clearly explained their position and, by 52 percent to 27 percent, Americans rate Obama's ideas as better. The public says by 60 percent to 32 percent that Obama has tried to work with Republicans on health care, and they believe the reverse about the Republicans.

Fifty percent believe the health care system needs fundamental changes, 27 percent say it must be completely rebuilt and 19 percent say it needs only minor changes. But that said, as in most polls, a big majority - 78 percent to 18 percent - are very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of health care they receive. However, Americans split on whether they are satisfied with the cost of health care, with 48 percent saying they were satisfied and 47 percent saying they were not.


Fifty-nine percent put the priority in health care reform on providing for the uninsured while 35 percent say keeping costs down is the most important thing.

On the economy, the public approves of what Obama has done by 50 percent to 40 percent, but those are his lowest numbers since taking office except for July when they dipped under 50 percent. Americans choose Obama over congressional Republicans to make the right decisions on the economy by 53 percent to 27 percent.

Forty-six percent say the economy is staying about the same, 36 percent say it is getting better and 17 percent believe it is getting worse. Forty-six percent believe that, so far, the economic stimulus package has had no impact on the economy compared to 36 percent who feel it has improved things. But looking at the long-term, 47 percent believe the stimulus spending will make things better compared to 21 percent who say it will make things worse and 24 percent who predict it will have no impact.

Obama's overall job approval rating is 56 percent to 33 percent with 11 percent undecided -- about the same as in August, but at its lowest since he assumed office.

Congressional Democrats are seen favorably by 47 percent to 41 percent compared to Republicans who are seen unfavorably by 57 percent to 30 percent.