Obama Gets Mixed Marks on Handling of Health Care, Economy

While President Obama's job approval rating in an Associated Press/GfK poll conducted Oct. 29-Nov. 9. is about where it is in most other polls -- 53 percent approving, 46 percent disapproving -- Americans give him lower marks on the two issues they say are most important to them: the economy and health care.

Forty-nine percent approve of his handling of the economy compared to 45 percent who don't, while
opinion divides evenly at 47 percent each on his handling of health care. The margin of error is 2.5 points.

The public is also divided on the health care reform proposals now moving through Congress, with 43 percent opposed, compared to 41 percent in favor, with 4 percent undecided. That said, 56 percent believe the country's health care system should be changed a lot, 28 percent say a moderate amount and 16 percent say not at all.

Fifty-one percent rate the quality of health care that most Americans get as excellent or good, 32 percent say it is fair and 17 percent grade it poor. Forty-nine percent say the health insurance they have is good or excellent, 40 percent say it is fair and 11 percent say it is poor.

Eighty-six percent say a goal of health care reform should be to make should that all Americans can get the health care they need.