public_opinion - ACTION - Command Center2024-03-29T13:02:57Zhttps://patriotcommandcenter.org/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/public_opinionNumerous Intriguing Polls Flying Around.https://patriotcommandcenter.org/profiles/blogs/numerous-intriguing-polls2010-06-11T01:15:53.000Z2010-06-11T01:15:53.000ZBarry 'Bigbare' Carsonhttps://patriotcommandcenter.org/members/BarryBigbareCarson<div>Andrew MalcolmL.A. Times<p>Judging by President <strong>Obama's</strong> remarks and media coverage,</p><p>the No. 1 topic on Americans' minds nowadays is the awful</p><p>oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. <em><strong>Not!</strong></em></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/139385/Federal-Debt-Terrorism-Considered-Top-Threats.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=Politics" target="_blank">Gallup finds terrorism remains</a> the top concern.</p><p>But it has now been joined by -- Hello, big Democratic spenders</p><p><strong>Nancy Pelosi</strong> and <strong>Harry Reid</strong> -- the exploding enormity of the</p><p>federal deficits. And here's the midterm election year political</p><p>problem for both of these Democrats: Republicans are viewed</p><p>as better at handling both of those concerns.</p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/story?id=10849879" target="_blank">ABC News finds</a> voter frustration at the boiling point.</p><p>The number of Americans approving of <strong>...</strong></p><p></p><a id="more" name="more"></a><div class="entry-more"><p>... their local House member has dropped below 50%</p><p>for the first time since <strong>Bill Clinton</strong>'s first midterm elections in 1994.</p><p>Anybody remember which party named Republican seized control</p><p>of both houses of Congress that year for the first time in four decades?</p><p>Voter approval of Congress is now at 26%, down 18 points since the</p><p>same Democrats took majority control of both houses in 2007.</p><p></p><p>As <a href="http://pos.org/2010/05/economic-perception-is-reality/" target="_blank">a Public Opinion Strategies memo notes here</a>, Americans' perception</p><p>of the economy has actually weakened in the last two months.</p><p>And predictably they are turning to the federal government's top talker for</p><p>the blame; 44% of the country approves of Obama's handling of the economy</p><p>while 53% disapprove.</p><p>The even better news for Republicans is that the GOP has increased its</p><p>lead on the so-called generic congressional ballot this month.</p><p>That is, which party's candidate are you most likely to vote for on Nov. 2?</p><p>Republicans now lead Democrats by nine points, 44-35,</p><p><a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/generic_congressional_ballot" target="_blank">Rasmussen Reports reports.</a></p><p></p><p>The <a href="http://www.harrisinteractive.com/" target="_blank">Harris Poll</a> has an interesting new survey out on how 2,503 Americans</p><p>rate 16 elements of life in their country. Large majorities give positive ratings</p><p>to America's science and technology (75%), its Constitution (70%),</p><p>quality of life <a style="float:right;" href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef013483b596e1970c-popup"></a> (66%) and even its overpriced colleges and universities (65%).</p><p>The more education you have, the higher you rate these categories.</p><p>However, the healthcare system (33%), public schools (32%) and the</p><p>economic system (28%) don't get rated very well.</p><p><strong>Incumbent Alert</strong>: You'll never guess which sector gets the worst rating</p><p>from Americans: Political (23%).</p><p></p><p>Some interesting wrinkles within, though. There's not much difference</p><p>among Republicans, Democrats and independents on many segments.</p><p>However, America's civil rights get better ratings from Republicans (70%)</p><p>than Democrats (53%); equality of opportunity (65% GOP, 47% Democrat)</p><p>and the environment (61% GOP, 37% Democrat). Only 19% of Republicans,</p><p>however, rate the system of government highly, while 33% of Democrats do.</p><p></p><p>The good polling news for Obama is that after 17 months of hope and change,</p><p>less than half of all Americans (47%) approve of his overall job performance in</p><p>the White House.</p><p></p><p>The bad news for Obama is, despite his nationally televised professed readiness</p><p>to consult experts on whose "ass" to kick over the slick mess, way less (40%)</p><p>approve of his handling of the nation's worst environmental disaster ever,</p><p><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/139406/Americans-Rate-Obama-Points-Worse-Spill-Overall.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=Politics%20-%20Presidential%20Job%20Approval" target="_blank">Gallup finds</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>One other piece of good news for the ex-state senator.</p><p>It is true that a significant majority of Americans disagree with him and approve</p><p>of Arizona's tough new illegal immigrant legislation and wish their state would</p><p>do the same and blame Obama's federal government for porous border security</p><p>with Mexico. All that's true.</p><p></p><p>However, the good news for the Democrat is that <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/june_2010/obama_44_arizona_governor_jan_brewer_39" target="_blank">if the 2012 presidential election</a></p><p>was held today, Obama could defeat Arizona's Republican Gov. <strong>Jan Brewer</strong>.</p><p>No one's never talked about her running. And he wouldn't beat her by much (44%-39%).</p><p>But Obama would still win. So that's gotta make him feel good these days.</p></div></div>