Young Americans Approve of Obama, but Not His Policies

Young Americans -- those between 18 and 29 -- approve of President Obama's job performance by 58 percent to 39 percent, but in line with many opinion polls of the overall population, they disapprove of his handling of specific issues, according to a poll by Harvard's Institute of Politics conducted Nov. 4-16.

The overall approval rate for Obama was below the percentage by which he won over young voters in last year's election, when they favored him by 66 percent to 32 percent.

By majorities ranging from 52 percent to 58 percent, they disapproved of Obama's performance when it came to health care, the federal budget deficit, Afghanistan, the economy and Iran.

One question that arose during this year's gubernatorial elections was whether Obama could again generate the kind of enthusiasm and turnout that was present in 2008 but absent in the off-year contests.

Fifty-five percent said it was very likely that they would plunge back into a 2012 campaign on Obama's side and 30 percent said it was somewhat likely. But those numbers were lower when asked if young Americans would get involved between now and 2012 if asked to help Obama push his agenda. Thirty-four percent said it was very likely and 43 percent said it was somewhat likely.

The top issue of concern for this group is the economy, which was cited by 48 percent. That was more than double health care (21 percent) and almost five times more than concern over war (10 percent).

A majority of young Americans say they are not following the front-burner issues of health care and Afghanistan closely. Fifty-seven percent are not following health care reform closely and 66 percent are not closely following the debate about sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Forty-eight percent believe Obama and Congress should continue trying to pass a health care reform bill this year, 30 percent favor stopping work on the current legislation and coming up with a more limited proposal and 22 percent say health care reform should be left for another time.

However, young Americans were much more supportive of specific elements within health care reform than they were of the overall package. Majorities backed proposals to require all Americans to have coverage, with help for those who can't afford it; establish a government-backed insurance plan to compete with private insurers; require insurers to sell policies to people even if they have pre-existing conditions; require employers who do not offer health care coverage to pay into a government health care fund; raise taxes on high-income families to help pay for reforms; and limit the amount of money patients can collect in medical malpractice suits.

On Afghanistan, young Americans oppose sending more U.S. troops by 66 percent to 31 percent.