Latest Round-Up of State Polls: Obama Has an Ohio Problem

bruce-drake

Bruce Drake

Contributing Editor
Posted:
11/12/09
President Obama's standing in the key swing state of Ohio has turned sour by several measures, including his ratings on overall job performance and his handling of health care and the economy. Details are in the Ohio section of our latest round-up of Obama ratings in polls state-by-state. Other updates include: California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Texas.

Alabama

SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28

2008 election: McCain 60 percent, Obama 38 percent

Alabamans disapprove of the job Obama is doing by 61 percent to 37 percent. Whites disapprove by 74 percent to 23 percent while blacks, who made up 24 percent of the sample, approve by 80 percent to 20 percent. Republicans disapprove by 90 percent to 9 percent and independents by 71 percent to 21 percent. Democrats approve by 71 percent to 27 percent.

Arizona

Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 24; Cronkite School of Journalism, Sept. 24-27

2008 election: McCain 53 percent, Obama 45 percent

Rasmussen says 56 percent of Arizonans disapprove of Obama's performance compared to 44 percent who approved. Of the 56 percent, 47 percent say they "strongly" disapprove.
The Cronkite poll says 49 percent of Arizonans approve of the overall job Obama is doing compared to 44 percent who do not. They disapprove of his handling of the economy by 48 percent to 45 percent and disapprove his handling of health care reform by 53 percent to 38 percent. They give him positive marks on dealing with Iraq, 48 percent to 38 percent.
Arkansas
Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 28; Public Policy Polling, Aug. 21-24

2008 election: McCain 59 percent, Obama 39 percent


Rasmussen says 62 percent disapprove of Obama's job performance while 37 percent give him positive marks. Of those, 52 percent "strongly" disapprove. Sixty-seven percent oppose the health care proposals of Obama and the Democrats while 30 percent support them. Again, 52 percent describe themselves as "strongly" opposed.

PPP says 56 percent disapprove of Obama's job performance compared to 40 percent who approve. And get this: Voters said by 55 percent to 45 percent that conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh had a better vision for America than Obama. Independents disapprove of Obama's performance by 66 percent to 30 percent. Obama's health plan is opposed by 60 percent to 29 percent. Democratic support for the health care plan is tepid compared to elsewhere at 54 percent to 26 percent with 20 percent undecided. Republicans oppose it 89 percent to 8 percent, and independents oppose it by 73 percent to 20 percent.

California
Los Angeles Times/USC, Oct. 27 - Nov. 3; Field Poll, Sept. 18 - Oct. 5; SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-29; Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 23

2008 election: Obama 61 percent, McCain 37 percent
Californians approve of the job Obama is doing by 60 percent to 34 percent with 6 percent undecided. Sixty-five percent view him favorably while 33 percent see him unfavorably. By 59 percent to 35 percent, voters want a senator elected in 2010 who will support Obama.
Field says 60 percent of voters approve of the job Obama is doing compared to 31 percent who disapprove, a falloff from March when the ratio was 65 percent to 21 percent. Californians support Obama's health care reform plan by 52 percent to 37 percent with 11 percent expressing no opinion. They approve of his handling of Afghanistan by 48 percent to 31 percent with 21 percent having no opinion. But a majority opposes a troop increase in Afghanistan, when the number of those who want the U.S. presence decreased (37 percent) and those who say it should be kept the same (16 percent) are combined. Thirty-three percent favor an increase. Voters approve of the job Obama is doing on the economy by 60 percent to 35 percent with 5 percent having no opinion. On foreign policy, they approve of his performance by 58 percent to 29 percent with 13 percent expressing no opinion.
SurveyUSA reports that Californians approve of the job Obama is doing by 62 percent to 33 percent with 5 percent undecided. Whites disapprove by 50 percent to 46 percent (the margin of error is 4 percentage points) but blacks, who make up 6 percent of the sample, approve by 80 percent to 19 percent and Hispanics, who make up 28 percent of the sample, approve by 75 percent to 17 percent.

Rasmussen says 50 percent approve of the job Obama is doing compared to 39 percent who disapprove. Fifty-five percent back the health care plan pushed by him and the Democrats while 41 percent are opposed.
Colorado
Rasmussen Reports Sept. 15, Public Policy Polling Aug. 14-16

2008 election: Obama 54 percent, McCain 45 percent
Fifty-one percent disapprove of Obama's job performance compared to 48 percent who give him positive marks, according to Rasmussen.
PPP says Obama's approval numbers are where they were in April: 49 percent give him positive marks and 47 percent express disapproval. Obama won the state in 2008 with 54 percent of the vote. Fifty-one percent oppose his health plan, 38 percent back it and 11 percent are undecided. Democrats approve of Obama as strongly as Republicans disapprove of him, while independents split with 48 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving.
Connecticut
2008 election: Obama 60 percent, McCain 38 percent

Quinnipiac says 58 percent of voters approve of Obama's job performance compared to 35 percent who disapprove with 7 percent undecided. They approve of his handling of the economy by 52 percent to 43 percent with 4 percent undecided. But his coattails are not long enough to help an incumbent senator in political trouble, Chris Dodd. Seventy-five percent say Obama's support of Dodd would make no difference to them. They trust Obama more than congressional Republicans on health care by 56 percent to 37 percent with 8 percent undecided.

Delaware

Daily Kos/Research 2000, Oct. 12-14; Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 30

2008 election: Obama 62 percent, McCain 37 percent

Research 2000 says Obama is viewed favorably by 64 percent and unfavorably by 32 percent with 4 percent expressing no opinion. Independents view him favorably by 69 percent to 25 percent with 6 percent having no opinion.
Rasmussen says 54 percent approve of Obama's job performance compared to 45 percent who do not. Voters are split on Obama's health care reform plan, with 49 percent opposing it to 48 percent who support it.
Florida
2008 election: Obama 51 percent, McCain 48 percent
The St. Petersburg Times poll says 51 percent rate Obama's performance as fair or poor while 46 percent say he is doing a good or excellent job.
Rasmussen says Floridians disapprove of Obama's performance by 58 percent to 42 percent.
But Quinnipiac says 48 percent approve of Obama's job performance while 46 percent do not with 6 percent undecided. The margin of error is 3 points.

Iowa
Daily Kos/Research 2000, Oct. 12-14; SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28; Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 22

2008 election: Obama 54 percent, McCain 44 percent

Research 2000 says Obama is viewed favorably by 55 percent and unfavorably by 36 percent with 9 percent expressing no opinion. Independents view him favorably by 56 percent to 32 percent with 12 percent voicing no opinion.
SurveyUSA found voters to be split, with 48 percent approving of Obama's job performance and 46 percent disapproving with 6 percent undecided. The margin of error is 4.1 points. Independents disapprove 52 percent to 43 percent.

Rasmussen says 49 percent of voters disapprove of Obama's job performance compared to 48 percent who rate him positively.

Kansas

SurveyUSA Sept. 27-28

2008 election: McCain 56 percent, Obama 41 percent

Fifty-seven percent disapprove of Obama's performance, 39 percent approve and 4 percent are undecided.

Kentucky

Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 30; SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28

2008 election: McCain 57 percent, Obama 41 percent
Rasmussen says 53 percent disapprove of Obama's performance compared to 37 percent who approve, with those who "strongly" disapprove -- 41 percent -- being the largest group by a double-digit margin. Fifty-seven percent oppose the health plan that Obama and Democrats are pushing compared to 39 percent who favor it.
SurveyUSA says Kentuckians disapprove of the job Obama is doing by 57 percent to 39 percent with 4 percent undecided. Thirty-six percent of Democrats are in the "disapprove" camp. Independents disapprove by 61 percent to 31 percent.
Maine
2008 election: Obama 58 percent, McCain 40 percent
Daily Kos/Research 2000 says 67 percent of voters view Obama favorably compared to 25 percent who see him unfavorably with 8 percent undecided. Independents see him favorably by 73 percent to 18 percent.
Public Policy Polling says voters approve of Obama's job performance by 49 percent to 41 percent with 10 percent undecided. They are split on his health care reform proposal with 41 percent favoring it, 40 percent opposed and 19 percent undecided.
Massachusetts
2008 election: Obama 62 percent, McCain 36 percent
Suffolk says 60 percent approve of Obama's job performance compared to 36 percent who don't with 4 percent undecided.
Rasmussen says 54 percent of voters approve of the job Obama is doing while 44 percent disapprove and 1 percent is not sure. Fifty percent favor the health care plan he is pushing while 46 percent oppose it and 4 percent are undecided.
Michigan
Rasmussen Reports, Oct. 21; Epic-MRA, Oct. 11-15
Rasmussen says voters approve of Obama's performance by a 52 percent to 47 percent margin, with 1 percent undecided.
EPIC-MRA says Obama is seen favorably by 51 percent and unfavorably by 45 percent with 4 percent undecided. In June, this poll reported that 60 percent regarded Obama favorably and 34 percent unfavorably.
Minnesota

SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28; Star Tribune Minnesota Poll, Sept. 21-24

2008 election: Obama 54 percent, McCain 44 percent

SurveyUSA says 55 percent approve of Obama's performance compared to 40 percent who disapprove with 5 percent undecided.

The Star Tribune says Obama's job approval rating has fallen 11 points since April with 51 percent now voicing approval of his performance. Forty-five percent disapprove of his handling of the health care issue compared to 39 percent who approve and 16 percent who are undecided.

Missouri
SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28; Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 21

2008 election: McCain 49.3 percent, Obama 49.2 percent
SurveyUSA says Missourians disapprove of Obama's job performance by 54 percent to 44 percent with 3 percent undecided. A quarter of Democrats disapprove. Independents, 29 percent of the sample, disapprove by 62 percent to 36 percent.

Rasmussen finds that 56 percent strongly or somewhat disapprove of Obama's job performance compared to 44 percent who approve. Fifty-nine percent strongly or somewhat oppose the health care plan being pushed by Obama and congressional Democrats compared to 38 percent who strongly or somewhat favor it. But a whopping 48 percent put themselves in the "strongly" oppose category.
New Hampshire
Rasmussen Reports, Sept. 14

2008 election: Obama 54 percent, McCain 44 percent
Voters split 50-50 on Obama's job performance.
New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Oct. 22 - Nov. 1; Public Policy Polling, Oct. 31 - Nov. 1; Rasmussen Reports, Oct. 29; Quinnipiac, Oct. 20-26
2008 election: Obama 57 percent, McCain 41 percent
Fifty-three percent approve of the job Obama is doing compared to 37 percent who don't with 10 percent undecided, according to Fairleigh Dickinson.
Public Policy Polling has voters divided at 45 percent each on whether or not they approve of Obama's performance with 10 percent undecided.
Rasmussen says 55 percent approve of Obama's performance and 44 percent disapprove with 1 percent undecided.
Quinnipiac says voters approve of the job Obama is doing by 55 percent to 39 percent with 6 percent undecided. The New York Times says Obama is viewed favorably by 62 percent and unfavorably by 25 percent with 12 percent not expressing an opinion.
New Mexico

SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28

2008 election: Obama 57 percent, McCain 42 percent

Fifty percent approve of Obama's performance compared to 45 percent who do not with 4 percent undecided. The margin of error is 4.1 points. Whites disapprove by 59 percent to 38 percent while Hispanics, 39 percent of the sample, approve by 68 percent to 29 percent.

New York

Daily Kos/Research 2000, Oct. 19-21 Quinnipiac University, Oct. 14-19; Siena College, Sept. 27-29; SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28

2008 election: Obama 63 percent, McCain 36 percent

Research 2000 says Obama is seen favorably by 53 percent and unfavorably by 39 percent with 8 percent undecided. Independents see him favorably by a 57 percent to 35 percent margin.

Quinnipiac says New Yorkers approve of Obama's job performance by 62 percent to 32 percent with 6 percent undecided.

Siena reports Obama is seen favorably by 55 percent to 38 percent with 6 percent undecided.

SurveyUSA says 63 percent approve of the job Obama is doing compared to 33 percent who do not, with 4 percent undecided.

Nevada

2008 election: Obama 55 percent, McCain 43 percent
Fifty-three percent disapprove of Obama's performance compared to 46 percent who approve. Fifty-two percent oppose his health care plan compared to 45 percent who support it.
North Carolina
Elon University, Oct. 26-29; Public Policy Polling, Oct. 2-4
2008 election: Obama 49.7 percent, McCain 49.4 percent
Elon University says 52 percent approve of Obama's performance compared to 44 percent who disapprove with 3 percent undecided. Forty-nine percent disapprove of his handling of the economy while 43 percent approve and 7 percent are undecided. Thirty-four percent trust Obama to deal with the key issues facing the country compared to 12 percent for congressional Democrats and 26 percent for congressional Republicans. Twenty-one percent don't trust any of them and 5 percent are undecided. Forty-three percent disapprove of Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan compared to 41 percent who approve with 12 percent undecided.
Public Policy Polling said Forty-nine percent disapprove of Obama's job performance compared to 45 percent who approve and 5 percent who are undecided. The approval figure was the same as last month, and PPP notes that this is the first month since April where it hasn't fallen. White voters disapprove of Obama by 61 percent to 33 percent while blacks approve by 90 percent to 7 percent. Fifty-percent said that Obama's trip to Copenhagen to make a pitch for Chicago to host the 2016 Olympics was not an appropriate use of his time while 38 percent said it was. Fifty-three percent oppose Obama's health plan, 38 percent support it and 9 percent are undecided.
Ohio
2008 election: Obama 51 percent, McCain 47 percent
The big news in the Quinnipiac poll was that for the first time more Ohio voters disapproved of Obama's job performance than approved, with 50 percent giving him negative marks compared to 45 percent who viewed him positively with 5 percent undecided. Obama's approval had been in the 60s from February through May, dipped to 49 percent in July and stood at 53 percent approving and 42 percent disapproving in September. And, for the first time, when asked who voters trusted more on handling health care, congressional Republicans tied Obama at 40 percent with 21 percent undecided. In September, respondents favored Obama by 49 percent to 28 percent. Voters oppose Obama's health care plan by 55 percent to 36 percent with 9 percent undecided and disapprove of his handling of the issue by a similar margin. They disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy by 53 percent to 42 percent with 5 percent undecided, compared to 48 percent who approved and 46 percent who disapproved in September
Oregon

SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28
2008 election: Obama 57 percent, McCain 40 percent

Fifty-nine percent approve of Obama's performance compared to 37 percent who do not, with 4 percent undecided.

Pennsylvania

Franklin & Marshall, Oct. 20-25; Quinnipiac University, Sept. 22-28

2008 election: Obama 54 percent, McCain 44 percent
F & M says Obama is seen favorably by 45 percent and unfavorably by 39 percent with 13 percent undecided, the first time since taking office that his favorable number was below 55 percent. Forty percent say he is doing an excellent or good job, 31 percent rate his performance as only fair, and 28 percent give him poor marks.
Quinnipiac says voters approve of the way Obama is handling his job by 49 percent to 42 percent with 9 percent undecided. They are split on his handling of the economy with 47 percent disapproving, 46 percent approving and 7 percent undecided. They oppose the health care plan Obama is pushing by 47 percent to 41 percent.
Texas
2008 election: McCain 55 percent, Obama 44 percent
The University of Texas poll says 52 percent disapprove of Obama's performance compared to 41 percent who approve and 7 percent who have no opinion.
Rasmussen says Texans turn thumbs-down on Obama's job performance by 80 percent to 18 percent, with two-thirds of those putting themselves in the "strongly" disapprove category.
Virginia
Public Policy Polling, Oct. 31- Nov.1; Suffolk University, Oct. 26-28; Roanoke College, Oct. 21-27; Rasmussen Reports, Oct. 27; Virginia Commonwealth University, Oct. 21-25
Public Policy Polling says Virginians disapprove of Obama's performance by 52 percent to 41 percent with 6 percent undecided.
Suffolk says 50 percent approve of Obama's performance, 42 percent disapprove and 8 percent are undecided.
Roanoke says 46 percent disapprove of Obama's job performance, 45 percent approve and 10 percent give him mixed marks.
Rasmussen says 51 percent disapprove of Obama's job performance while 49 percent approve and 1 percent is undecided.
VCU says 49 percent rate Obama's performance excellent or good while 48 percent say it is fair or poor with 3 percent undecided.

Washington State

SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28
2008 election: Obama 57 percent, McCain 40 percent

Fifty-three percent approve of Obama's performance compared to 42 percent who disapprove with 4 percent undecided.

Wisconsin

SurveyUSA, Sept. 27-28
2008 election: Obama 56 percent, McCain 42 percent

Obama gets an evenly-split decision with approval and disapproval each at 47 percent with 6 percent undecided. Independents, who make up 30 percent of the sample, disapprove by 54 percent to 39 percent.