http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=74ED3A1F-282C-4F2C-AD56-59ECE932E619 Poll: Obama approval edges up
By: Tal Kopan
April 2, 2014 06:33 AM EDT
President Barack Obama’s job approval is up slightly in a new poll, but Americans still give him an overall negative grade and disapprove of his handling of foreign policy.
Americans disapprove of the job Obama is doing 50 percent to 42 percent, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday. The numbers were up slightly from Quinnipiac’s polling in January, when Obama saw a 40 percent approval rating and 54 percent disapproval.
As the situation in Ukraine and Russia continues to draw headlines, Americans gave Obama a negative grade on foreign policy, with 39 percent of voters approving of his handling of international issues and 55 percent disapproving. On Ukraine specifically, voters gave him a 41 percent to 47 percent approval.
Voters were evenly split on whether Obama or Russian President Vladimir Putin is a stronger leader, with 42 percent each.
Meanwhile, with midterm elections looming in November, voters shifted slightly back in favor of Democrats on a generic ballot. Voters said they would vote for a Democrat over a Republican, 40 percent to 38 percent, a reversal from the 38 percent to 37 percent advantage Republicans enjoyed in January.
Americans also have a more favorable view of Democrats in Congress than Republicans, with 30 percent approving of the job Democrats are doing and 18 percent giving good marks to Republicans.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,578 registered voters from March 26-31 for the poll, which has an error margin of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.