He Won the Nobel, but How Do Americans See Obama on Foreign Policy?

So, what do Americans think of their president's performance on the world stage?

Most polls show Americans approve of Obama's handling of foreign affairs. Quinnipiac University, in a poll conducted Sept. 29-Oct. 5, said 49 percent voiced approval compared to 37 percent who disapproved with 13 percent undecided.

Americans also approve by 63 percent to 28 percent of the U.S. entering into direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program, something Obama has shown willingness to do while the Bush administration had ruled that out, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Sept. 30-Oct. 4.

One finding that may indicate the prize may not be entirely a political plus was in a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll, conducted Sept. 29 - 30, in which 51 percent said Obama apologizes too much to the world for past U.S. policies, compared to 45 percent who disagreed with that statement and 5 percent undecided. This was a decidedly partisan result with 71 percent of Democrats disagreeing, while 77 percent of Republicans and 54 percent of independents supporting that view.

On specific issues, the Quinnipiac poll found voters to be split on Obama's handling of Afghanistan with 42 percent approving, 40 percent disapproving and 17 percent undecided.

On Iran, Pew found that 45 percent approved of Obama's performance compared to 39 percent who did not with 17 percent undecided. Fox said that 69 percent of voters believed Obama was not being tough enough, 16 percent said his stance toward Iran was about right and 6 percent described it as too tough. Even a majority of Democrats, 55 percent, said Obama was not being tough enough with 88 percent of Republicans holding that view.