Gallup Poll: Record Disapproval Ratings for Obama on Economy

[mystery-ak]

http://www.newsmax.com/PrintTemplate.aspx/?nodeid=566309


Newsmax
Gallup Poll: Record Disapproval Ratings for Obama on Economy
Thursday, April 17, 2014 10:41 PM

By: Todd Beamon

More than half of Americans said they had virtually no confidence in President Barack Obama's ability to improve the nation's sagging economy — the highest rate during his years in the White House, according to a new Gallup poll.

Those survey respondents said they had little or no confidence in Obama making effective economic decisions, the survey found. That was up 15 percentage points over last year.

On the flip side, only 42 percent who said they believed that he had such economic skills, Gallup found. Even that figure was a new low for Obama — and matches his current overall approval rating.

Generally, the generally has hovered in the 50-to-57 percent approval range on the economy issue since his first year in the White House.

That year, 71 percent of Americans told Gallup that they had confidence in Obama's ability to improve the economy.

The Washington-based organization surveyed 1,026 adults April 3-6. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

But disapproval ratings were just as high for congressional Republicans, 71 percent, and Democrats, 61 percent, Gallup found.

And 43 percent expressed a similar no confidence sentiment for Janet Yellen, the new chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, the survey found.

Business leaders and state governors, however, garnered stronger responses in the Gallup poll — with 52 percent expressing confidences in corporate executives and 51 percent in top state leaders.

"It has been six months since the federal government shutdown, and its aftermath still creates tremors throughout the collective American psyche," Gallup said in its analysis, referring to the 16-day partial closing that cost American taxpayers $1.4 billion.

"Though confidence in the economy itself has recovered from the shutdown, confidence in the elected officials who strongly influence the economy seems to not have recovered," Gallup said.

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"It has been six months since the federal government shutdown, and its aftermath still creates tremors throughout the collective American psyche," Gallup said in its analysis, referring to the 16-day partial closing that cost American taxpayers $1.4 billion.

"Though confidence in the economy itself has recovered from the shutdown, confidence in the elected officials who strongly influence the economy seems to not have recovered," Gallup said.

I'm not so sure about this.  I suspect the shutdown is a distant memory for most people, pushed down the memory hole by dissatisfaction with Obamacare.  After all, how can Gallup's second statement be true if Republicans got all the blame for the shutdown?  If they blamed Republicans, wouldn't Obama be doing better?  I think Gallup missed something in their poll:  Obamacare is hurting people both literally and in the pocketbook.  Cause pain for people and hit them in the wallet while doing it and you'll find yourself in a tough spot in the popularity contest.

[sinkspur]

Obama lied through his teeth over ACA ("If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor"), has done nothing to improve the economy, is completely feckless in foreign policy, and panders to his base with pleas to racism and class warfare.

He's finished, no matter how November turns out.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

I'm not so sure about this.  I suspect the shutdown is a distant memory for most people, pushed down the memory hole by dissatisfaction with Obamacare.  After all, how can Gallup's second statement be true if Republicans got all the blame for the shutdown?  If they blamed Republicans, wouldn't Obama be doing better?  I think Gallup missed something in their poll:  Obamacare is hurting people both literally and in the pocketbook.  Cause pain for people and hit them in the wallet while doing it and you'll find yourself in a tough spot in the popularity contest.

I think that is logical to assume the damage from the shutdown is fading.

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,136122.0.html

The more surprising part of the Fox poll, though, might be how people view the Republican Party. It shows Americans are now evenly split -- 45 percent to 45 percent -- on the GOP. As recently as October, the same poll showed just 30 percent of Americans viewed the GOP favorably, compared to 63 percent unfavorable.

The poll actually shows the GOP's numbers are about the same as the Democratic Party, which has long been held in better regard.

The reason for the GOP's improved numbers has a lot to do with its own supporters coming home. While just 62 percent of Republicans had a favorable view of their own party in October, 84 percent now say they like their party.

Independents have improved their view of the GOP, with 30 percent viewing it favorably -- up from 14 percent in October.

Other polls have shown the GOP brand in much worse shape, though still improving. The Fox poll, notably, asks respondents about the GOP writ large and not specifically about Republicans in Congress. The latter question tends to elicit more negative responses.