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New Wave of Polls Brings Bad News for Obama and the Democrats

1 year ago
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Bruce Drake
Bruce Drake
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Bad news in the polls has become the norm for President Obama and congressional Democrats as the midterm elections draw near, and a batch of new surveys show Obama's approval rating at a low ebb, high negatives for his handling of the economy and a continued trend toward the Republicans in the fight for Congress.

Here's a look at the top findings of surveys by the Washington Post/ABC News, conducted Aug. 20-Sept. 2; the Wall Street Journal/NBC News, conducted Aug. 26-30; and, CNN/Opinion Research Corp., conducted Sept. 1-2. (Some of CNN's findings were released separately.)


Obama job approval
Post/ABC: Fifty-two percent disapprove of the job Obama is doing while 46 percent approve, his worst numbers in 17 polls dating back to Feb. 2009.
Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama

WSJ/NBC: Forty-nine percent disapprove while 45 percent approve, with 6 percent undecided, his worst showing in this poll dating back to December.

CNN: This is the outlier in the group: 50 percent approve compared to 49 percent who disapprove.

There was one other telling figure in the Post/ABC poll. Those surveyed were asked whether they thought Obama had brought needed change to Washington -- something that was a mantra in his campaign and a driving force in his election -- and 53 percent said he had not compared to 44 percent who believed he had.


Obama on the economy
Post/ABC: Fifty-seven percent disapprove of his handling of the economy while 41 percent approve. The number of those who said they "strongly" disapproved outnumbered all those who approved (44 percent compared to the 41 percent). Thirty-six percent say Obama's economic policies have had no effect, 33 percent believe they have made things worse and 30 percent say they have made things better. If the Republicans were to take control of Congress, 37 percent said it would have no effect on the state of the economy, 32 percent said it would make things better and 27 percent said it would make things worse.

WSJ/NBC: Fifty-six percent disapproved while 39 percent approved with 5 percent undecided, up from a 52-percent-to-44-percent margin of disapproval in the last poll. This was Obama's worst showing dating back to December. Forty-five percent believe the economy will stay the same in the next 12 months, while those surveyed were evenly divided at 26 percent each on whether it will get better or worse.

CNN: Fifty-nine percent disapprove while 40 percent approve, Obama's worst marks in this poll dating back to March 2009.


Referendum on Obama?
All three polls agree that most Americans don't see their vote in this year's congressional elections as one meant to express opposition to Obama.

The Post/ABC poll says 47 percent don't consider Obama a factor in their decision while 25 percent consider their vote a signal of support for him and 27 percent intend it as a vote of opposition to his policies. In the Journal/NBC poll, 41 percent said their vote was not a signal of opinions about Obama, while 29 percent said it was a message of opposition and 27 percent said it would be a message of support. CNN said 54 percent said their vote was not intended as a message about Obama, while 24 percent said it signaled opposition and 29 percent said it would be intended as support.

Looking at it another way, the Post/ABC poll asked -- regardless of which party the respondent planned to support -- whether it was better to have Republicans in charge of Congress as a check on Obama's policies or Democrats in charge to help support them. Fifty-five percent said it would be better to have the Republicans in charge for that reason while 39 percent sided with the Democrats.

When voters who preferred Republicans in the midterms were asked in the Journal/NBC survey the reason for their preference, 46 percent said theirs would be a positive vote for the GOP, 28 percent said it would be a protest against the performance of congressional Democrats and 12 percent said it would be a protest against Obama's policies, with the rest citing other factors. Sixty-four percent of all those surveyed believed it was better if Congress and White House were controlled by different parties.

Generic Congressional Ballot
Post/ABC: 53 percent of likely voters said they would back the Republican candidate for Congress compared to 40 percent who favored the Democrat. Among all registered voters, the Republican advantage is a statistically insignificant 47 percent to 45 percent. By one measure, that would mean Democrats have room for growth if they can turn their voters out at the polls, but nearly all surveys this year have shown Democrats to be much less enthusiastic about this year's elections than the Republicans.

WSJ/NBC: Among all adults, the public split at 43 percent each between the Republicans and Democrats. However, when the poll looked at those voters most likely to cast ballots, Republicans led by 49 percent to 40 percent. MSNBC's story on the poll said that among those expressing a high interest in voting, the GOP lead increases 18 points. If voters had the choice of an independent or third-party candidate in their races, 34 percent would support the Democrat, 32 percent would back the Republican and 25 percent would favor the independent, with 9 percent undecided.

CNN: Fifty-two percent of registered voters back the Republicans compared to 45 percent for the Democrats. In early August, the Republican advantage was 48 percent to 45 percent. Among all Americans, 49 percent support the Republicans and 45 percent back the Democrats.

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Filed Under: House, Democrats, Republicans, Barack Obama, Economy, Polls, Obama Administration, Poll Watch, 2010 Elections
Tagged: 2010 Election Polls, 2010 Elections, 2010 midterm elections, Generic ballot, generic congressional ballot
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135 Comments

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Mary Hoffmeister

I strongly object to the health care plan. I lived under that type in GB for 5 years. It was a terrible system. People think it will be free--NO - there was a certain amount taken out of my husbans' paycheck for health care--much the same as we have done here with SS. also -no choice of the doctor we wanted. If wanting special care ir meant going to a non participating doctor and pay the fee that Dr. wanted. The hospitals were not anywhere near the quality of the ones in the US. I am a retired RN.

October 12 2010 at 9:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
thirdpartyvote

Bush 2000 Did you vote for him? I did not. Obama 04. Did you vote for him? I did not ..and I most certainly did not vote for McCain. Do you think the Tea Party is a savior? Let's see.

October 10 2010 at 12:05 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
George

people keep saying we live in a democracy. america is a republic..with a democratic form of government. wake up.

September 12 2010 at 8:21 PM Report abuse +13 rate up rate down Reply
tinam0424

It's surprising that it even took this long for people to realize that Obama is an empty suit, nothing but words and "razzle dazzle". Blaming Bush is not working anymore, thank God. The one good thing that Obama has done, is wake regular folks up. For once, they are paying attention and perhaps the whole corrupt bunch will be thrown out. We MUST have regular folks representing us in Washington. IF they aren't rich already, they come out filthy rich, and if they are already rich, they come out richer. It is disgraceful. We CANNOT afford it anymore.

September 12 2010 at 8:56 AM Report abuse +24 rate up rate down Reply
stuckonpat

As it looks now, the GOP will gain in the House and Some in the Senate. In 4 months time the voices of America will show a more concern for the future and what they can do about it. Problem is Wall St. and the greenbacks there have their own agenda. Thus, we will still be own a fairly unstable gourse for the forsseable future. Changing reds and blues doesn't change the greens that rules.

September 11 2010 at 12:09 PM Report abuse -8 rate up rate down Reply
bevbtook

I know that many Americans await the arrival of the Democrats that brought this Administration to office along with the ideals that will move this country forward.The polls are not allowing for those of us, who will vote overwhelmingly Democratic, to continue to bring the middle class,working people and this country back from the 'economic disaster' of the past decade. The 'fear factor' of the "polls" will not work with Democrats voting this fall.They will be there in numbers, to make sure the agenda that voted this President,Congress and the Senate to Washington, D.C., will continue.Eight years of the Republican agenda,put our economy in a deep whole that will take time to get out of.This Administration is moving our economy in the right direction,Dems are in it, to win it. Democrats will vote fear out of D.C.

September 10 2010 at 7:49 PM Report abuse -38 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to bevbtook's comment
twocarr

Interesting, its going on 3 days now, and bevbtook's comments have received one thumbs up. That in comparison to the 24 thumbs down responses. That leads to the obvious conclusion that bevbtook's feelings about the Democrats' progressive far left agenda is not supported be the American people. The dogs don't like the dog food!!

September 13 2010 at 10:48 AM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
vicbar88

'economic disaster' of the past decade - that's funny - history shows us that this happens every 8-12 years and always corrects itself no matter who is in power. Keep making excuses and being part of the problem!

September 14 2010 at 6:01 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
chasingheather1

EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE POLLED - I FOR ONE WAS NOT- NOR ARE WERE ANY OF THE PEOPLE I ASKED, I WALKED AROUND, AND SAID WERE YOU POLLED? THEY KEEP SAYING 49%, 54 %, ETC. OF WHOM- WHY DO THEY NOT SAY- OUT OF 100 PEOPLE, OR 1000 PEOPLE, IN THIS ONE STATE, MY PHONE HAS NOT RUND ONCE,

September 09 2010 at 1:11 PM Report abuse -10 rate up rate down Reply
ewaynee

Yea, the republicans have a chance to get back into the drivers seat. I cant wait until they rule again. I cant wait for $5.00 a gallon gasoline again. I cant wait to see more corporations ripping off Americans like Eron. I cant wait for republicans to cut government spending closing libary's, cutting teachers and increasing class sizes, closing fire houses and cutting the police force to balance the budget. I cant wait for republicans to cut government workers that have jobs to balance the budget. I cant wait for republicans to get control and fix the housing crisis and the economy. The republicans have the answers. When they are in charge everything is always ok for everyone. Go GOP! Remember America what things were like just two years ago. You just may get what you vote into power. Are you really ready for this kind of change?

September 09 2010 at 11:08 AM Report abuse -48 rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to ewaynee's comment
rrlpardue

reverent jones plan to burn the quran. i had the same idea when i saw people around the world burning our flag. you don't disrespect our flag and what it stands for. the american symbol of our great but flawed country. if if were there i would supply the flame. Hillary Clintons opposition to it would reinforce my desire to support reverent Jones.

September 08 2010 at 4:34 PM Report abuse +28 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to rrlpardue's comment
weathwoods

In 1967 Israel attacked the USS Liberty, murdered 34 American sailors, and wounded more than 170. Does that bother you? Will you burn an Israeli flag?

September 08 2010 at 5:19 PM Report abuse -21 rate up rate down Reply
sturmanboege

A republican landslide

September 08 2010 at 4:03 PM Report abuse +46 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to sturmanboege's comment
thirdpartyvote

Good luck with either pary.

October 10 2010 at 12:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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