Polls: 'Strong Disapproval' of Obama Growing

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Polls: 'Strong Disapproval' of Obama Growing

Monday, June 22, 2009 1:00 PM
By: Jim Meyers

More Americans now "strongly disapprove" of Barack Obama's performance as president than "strongly approve," according to the most recent Rasmussen poll.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 33 percent of respondents "strongly approve" of Obama's performance on the job so far, but 34 percent "strongly disapprove."

Overall, 45 percent of voters disapprove, while 54 percent say they at least somewhat approve.
Obama fares better in the latest Gallup poll, which found that 33 percent of respondents disapprove of his job performance and 58 percent approve. But 58 percent is a new low — since taking office in January, his approval rating has averaged 63 percent, according to Gallup.

Gallup speculates that several factors could be behind Obama's plunging ratings: the administration's deficit spending; public concerns about the cost of Obama's healthcare reform plan; and his cautious response to the election protests in Iran.

In the Rasmussen poll, the percentage of voters who blame George Bush for the country's economic ills is down eight points from a month ago, to 54 percent, while 39 percent say the country's economic problems are a result of Obama's policies. "A growing number say it's Obama's economy now," Rasmussen observed.

Other Rasmussen poll findings include:

Only 46 percent of respondents think Obama is doing an excellent or good job with the economy.

Just 30 percent say they trust Obama to handle the economic crisis.

60 percent of voters now trust their own judgment on economic issues more than the president's.

51 percent of voters favor an across-the-board tax cut for all Americans to stimulate the economy.

45 percent of voters trust the Republicans more to handle the economy, while 39 percent trust the Democrats more.

Half of those polled agree that the economy is getting worse, and only 25 percent think it is getting better.

A majority of those polled, 56 percent, have an unfavorable view of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and 34 percent have a favorable view. Just 27 percent have a favorable view of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

But slightly more respondents have a favorable view of Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell than unfavorable.