Behind the Numbers: Barack Obama


Posted at 09:18 AM ET, 05/24/2012

Egyptian election: Will U.S. lose?
By Scott Clement
Will Egyptian voters cast their vote in effect against the United States and Israel?

By Scott Clement  |  09:18 AM ET, 05/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 01:16 PM ET, 05/22/2012

Before NATO summit Obama’s approval rating split on Afghanistan, international affairs
By Peyton M. Craighill
The public splits roughly down the middle on President Obama’s handling of Afghanistan and international affairs more broadly, says the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  01:16 PM ET, 05/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Afghanistan

Posted at 06:37 PM ET, 05/02/2012

Is Obama’s chest thumping a turnoff?
By Scott Clement
Reactions to George W. Bush ad eight years ago may provide clues.

By Scott Clement  |  06:37 PM ET, 05/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Afghanistan, 2012 polls, International polls

Posted at 11:20 AM ET, 04/25/2012

Arizona immigration law persistently popular
By Scott Clement
Despite all the controversy, Americans like the law. A lot.

By Scott Clement  |  11:20 AM ET, 04/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Immigration, Supreme Court, Behind the Numbers, Republican Party

Posted at 09:11 AM ET, 04/19/2012

Gas prices: Global problem, domestic blame  
By Scott Clement
Polls show Americans are willing to dole out plenty of domestic blame.

By Scott Clement  |  09:11 AM ET, 04/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, International polls, 2012 polls

Posted at 07:01 PM ET, 04/11/2012

Poll: Romney weaker than Obama on foreign policy
By Scott Clement
Romney has plans to attack on foreign policy issues, but Americans trust Obama more on international affairs.

By Scott Clement  |  07:01 PM ET, 04/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, International polls

Posted at 12:17 PM ET, 04/10/2012

Romney winning struggling middle-class voters
By Scott Clement
Obama is stronger among voters who are “comfortable” or “moving up” from the middle class.

By Scott Clement  |  12:17 PM ET, 04/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 12:17 PM ET, 04/10/2012

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman to stump for Romney in Pennsylvania on Thursday
By Scott Clement
The GOP rising star joins the presidential frontrunner for a campaign event in the Keystone State.

By Scott Clement  |  12:17 PM ET, 04/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, Presidential Approval | Tags:  Mitt Romney, Rob Portman, Veepstakes

Posted at 05:37 PM ET, 04/09/2012

Poll: Gas price pain — and blame
By Peyton M. Craighill
A third of all Americans say spiking gasoline prices have caused them serious financial hardship, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  05:37 PM ET, 04/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 06:31 PM ET, 03/28/2012

Is Russia still America’s bogeyman?
By Scott Clement
Mitt Romney called Russia America’s “number one political foe.” Americans don’t see Russia in such negative terms.

By Scott Clement  |  06:31 PM ET, 03/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 09:44 AM ET, 03/26/2012

Americans want Supreme Court arguments televised
By Scott Clement
The Supreme Court will hear arguments today on the health reform law, but the general public will have to settle for audio recordings and color sketches. Americans aren’t thrilled about the arrangement, and appear to have turned sharply against the practice in the past decade.

By Scott Clement  |  09:44 AM ET, 03/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Health care, Supreme Court, Barack Obama

Posted at 01:07 PM ET, 03/23/2012

Friday feedback: Twitterverse offers one-word reactions to GOP candidates
By Scott Clement
We asked Twitter followers to sum up Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Paul in a word, just as as we did in a national poll released Friday.

By Scott Clement  |  01:07 PM ET, 03/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 02:48 PM ET, 03/22/2012

Poll watcher: More Americans spurn faith talk by politicians
By Scott Clement
Nearly four in 10 Americans now say politicians talk too much about religious faith, a sentiment that has spiked in recent years among Democrats and independents, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.

By Scott Clement  |  02:48 PM ET, 03/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Presidential Approval

Posted at 05:29 PM ET, 03/21/2012

Afghan people once supported war, but do they now?
By Scott Clement
An apparent killing spree and widely publicized Koran burnings threaten to alienate Afghans.

By Scott Clement  |  05:29 PM ET, 03/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Afghanistan, Barack Obama

Posted at 10:23 AM ET, 03/12/2012

Obama’s problem with non-college-educated white Americans
By Scott Clement
White Americans without college degrees soured sharply on President Obama in the past month according to the new Washington Post-ABC News poll, helping to stall a rise in his popularity and bring him back to parity in hypothetical contests against Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

By Scott Clement  |  10:23 AM ET, 03/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 07:29 PM ET, 02/22/2012

Are polls on foreign policy accurate?
By Scott Clement
“Lies, damn lies and statistics” is a jab sometimes aimed at political polls, and in the complicated business of foreign policy polling there’s plenty for people to argue over. If most Americans aren’t foreign policy wonks, are these results even meaningful?

By Scott Clement  |  07:29 PM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Barack Obama, GOP nomination, methodology

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 02/21/2012

Obama’s rising gas prices problem
By Scott Clement
President Obama’s improved polling numbers (and his reelection chances) are threatened by a perennial bugaboo: spiking gas prices.

By Scott Clement  |  12:34 PM ET, 02/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, Economy, GOP nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 12:18 PM ET, 02/15/2012

Poll watcher: Libya cheers revolution; Americans hesitant on Syria, Iran
By Scott Clement
Libyans are overwhelmingly positive and optimistic about their lives and their country in a new survey by Oxford Research International.

By Scott Clement  |  12:18 PM ET, 02/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Barack Obama | Tags:  Iran, Libya, Syria, Middle East

Posted at 10:07 AM ET, 02/09/2012

Syria intervention? Americans may not be cheering
By Scott Clement
Syrians continue to be bombarded by President Assad’s government. Obama’s reluctance to use force jibes with the philosophy of most Americans.

By Scott Clement  |  10:07 AM ET, 02/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 10:11 AM ET, 02/06/2012

Obama and Romney on the economy — empathy or competence?
By Peyton M. Craighill
On trust to handle the No. 1 issue — the economy — public perceptions of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney diverge in important ways.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  10:11 AM ET, 02/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, GOP nomination

Posted at 07:23 PM ET, 02/01/2012

Does killing bad guys really help at the ballot box?
By Scott Clement
“For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country,” said President Obama the top of his State of the Union speech last week. Obama and his team clearly see eliminating bin Laden as a top administration achievement. But do Americans really reward at the ballot box presidents who take down their bogeyman?

By Scott Clement  |  07:23 PM ET, 02/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Barack Obama, Presidential Approval, Voting

Posted at 12:17 PM ET, 01/30/2012

Poll watcher: Are capital gains tax rates popular?
By Scott Clement
A New York Times/CBS News poll shows a stark partisan divide on whether investment income should be taxed at a lower rate than ordinary earnings.

By Scott Clement  |  12:17 PM ET, 01/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, Federal Budget Deficit, GOP nomination, Presidential Approval, Republican Party, Voting, methodology | Tags:  budget deficit, gop nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 03:05 PM ET, 01/25/2012

Poll watcher: Domestic policy prime in 2012
By Scott Clement
A slender 9 percent of Americans say President Obama should focus on foreign policy, while 81 percent prefer a domestic focus.

By Scott Clement  |  03:05 PM ET, 01/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Congress, Economy, GOP nomination, Republican Party, International polls | Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, Economy, GOP Nomination, International Polls

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 01/24/2012

Obama’s report card from the public
By Scott Clement
President Obama received a decidedly mixed report card in a Washington Post-ABC News poll released last week.

By Scott Clement  |  03:37 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval, Congress

Posted at 02:06 PM ET, 01/18/2012

Poll watcher: Nuclear Iran a weak spot for Obama
By Scott Clement
President Obama’s most nagging challenge remains a persistently sluggish economy, but a new Washington Post-ABC News poll reveals a chink in his foreign policy armor less than 11 months before he faces voters: Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

By Scott Clement  |  02:06 PM ET, 01/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  International polls, Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 07:13 PM ET, 01/16/2012

Obama sub-50 to start year four
By Peyton M. Craighill
President Obama kicks off 2012 even-up on job approval in the new Washington Post-ABC News poll: 48 percent of Americans approve of the job he’s doing; 48 percent disapprove.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  07:13 PM ET, 01/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 11:39 AM ET, 12/29/2011

Poll watcher: Obama seen as liberal; Hispanics in 2012, Iowa roundup
By Scott Clement
57 percent majority of Americans see president’s political views as liberal, versus 23 percent who see him as a moderate and 15 percent as conservative, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll released Thursday.

By Scott Clement  |  11:39 AM ET, 12/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, GOP nomination, methodology, Immigration

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 12/23/2011

Poll watcher: public views of the tax showdown
By Peyton M. Craighill
Public views of the tax debate, Ron Paul’s Iowa move and Obama’s approval bump mark a busy week before Christmas in public opinion polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  12:30 PM ET, 12/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Behind the Numbers, Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 05:17 PM ET, 12/19/2011

Washington Post-ABC poll: Obama’s winter thaw
By Peyton M. Craighill
It’s not yet Christmas, but President Obama’s chilly job approval ratings over the fall have thawed a little. Just under half the country — 49 percent — approves of the job he is doing in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll; 47 percent disapprove.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  05:17 PM ET, 12/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 12/16/2011

Poll watcher: Gingrich slides in national, Iowa polls
By Scott Clement
Newt Gingrich's support in the race for the Republican presidential nomination has fallen quickly since early December.

By Scott Clement  |  12:13 PM ET, 12/16/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  GOP nomination, 2012 polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 12/14/2011

Poll watcher: Will attacks on Obama’s foreign policy hold water?  
By Scott Clement
How thick is Obama’s Teflon on foreign affairs? Beyond terrorism, polls show, he may be vulnerable.

By Scott Clement  |  04:00 PM ET, 12/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, International polls, GOP nomination

Posted at 07:02 AM ET, 12/14/2011

Poll: Obama favorable ratings hold steady
By Peyton M. Craighill
President Obama draws only about even on the most basic rating for a political figure: 48 percent of all Americans see him favorably, and 49 percent unfavorably in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  07:02 AM ET, 12/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Behind the Numbers, Barack Obama

Posted at 02:34 PM ET, 12/13/2011

Poll watcher: Swing states less friendly to Obama in 2012
By Scott Clement
A poll of 12 swing states finds the Republican Party in a stronger position than in 2008, when Obama ran the table in each contest.

By Scott Clement  |  02:34 PM ET, 12/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 12/12/2011

Poll watcher: Unemployment drop no salve for Obama
By Scott Clement
Fewer Americans are hearing negative news about the economy, but there’s no apparent benefit for broader views of the U.S. economy, or for President Obama.

By Scott Clement  |  12:45 PM ET, 12/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval, Economy, GOP nomination

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 12/05/2011

Obama’s unemployment comeback?
By Scott Clement
Friday’s big drop in the unemployment rate to the lowest level since early 2009 comes as welcome news to President Obama, but are these numbers enough to bring him up from below sea level?

By Scott Clement  |  07:00 AM ET, 12/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, Presidential Approval

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 12/02/2011

What influences public views on Iran action?
By Danny Hayes
Study show that political elites’ views would significantly affect public support for military action against Iran.

By Danny Hayes  |  09:15 AM ET, 12/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, International polls

Posted at 02:56 PM ET, 11/29/2011

Poll watcher: Who is Newt Gingrich’s base? Tea party districts sour on tea party and doggy health care
By Scott Clement
In surging to the top in the race for the Republican nomination, recent polls find Newt Gingrich has built a coalition of three high-turnout groups: older Republicans, tea party supporters and conservatives.

By Scott Clement  |  02:56 PM ET, 11/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  GOP nomination, Republican Party, Barack Obama

Posted at 10:23 AM ET, 11/07/2011

Poll watcher: Millennials dispirited; Obama in swing states and 2012 religious divide
By Scott Clement
The millennial generation - adults currently under age 30 - supported Barack Obama at record levels in 2008, but a comprehensive new report provides the clearest picture yet that young Americans are dispirited about politics and next year’s presidential election.

By Scott Clement  |  10:23 AM ET, 11/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 03:41 PM ET, 11/02/2011

Poll Watcher: Obama ratings rise may signal partisan shift; Iraq withdrawal and cell phone apps  
By Scott Clement
Quinnipiac University released a new poll Wednesday showing President Obama’s job approval up six points to 47 percent since early October.

By Scott Clement  |  03:41 PM ET, 11/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval, Iraq

Posted at 06:05 PM ET, 10/31/2011

Poll watcher: Iowa GOP race; do millionaires want a tax hike?
By Scott Clement
Herman Cain and Mitt Romney are close in Iowa, but Cain holds a 17-point edge among voters who “definitely” plan to vote in the January caucuses.

By Scott Clement  |  06:05 PM ET, 10/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, GOP nomination, Presidential Approval

Posted at 12:33 PM ET, 10/28/2011

Poll watch: Record low support for health reform, Obama economic ratings and the scariest polls
By Scott Clement
Today’s top polls: record low support for health care reform, ratings for President Obama and our scariest poll findings…

By Scott Clement  |  12:33 PM ET, 10/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Health care, Presidential Approval

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 10/25/2011

Polls: Tablet users; Obama’s ratings back home; ‘cool’ smoking
By Scott Clement
The latest computer revolution is ushering in a renaissance of news for tablet computer users, according to a new report.

By Scott Clement  |  12:39 PM ET, 10/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 03:24 PM ET, 10/24/2011

Poll watcher: Sports fandom diverse, thumbs down on electoral college and Obama’s approval ratings
By Scott Clement
Washington area sports fans range the gamut from hyper-enthused “Megafans” to “Social fans” who care more about going to the game than following sports closely.

By Scott Clement  |  03:24 PM ET, 10/24/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, D.C., Voting

Posted at 01:21 PM ET, 10/21/2011

Obama: Jack of the wrong trades?; poll spins message on jobs bill
By Scott Clement
Obama earns his highest poll marks as president on issues that rank among the least important to Americans.

By Scott Clement  |  01:21 PM ET, 10/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, Presidential Approval

Posted at 12:58 PM ET, 10/20/2011

Poll watcher: Most say Obama is a liberal; courting the religious vote in 2012; GOP ‘horserace’; bike sharing
By Scott Clement
Fully 62 percent of Americans say President Obama is liberal, while 16 percent see him as a moderate and 18 percent as conservative.

By Scott Clement  |  12:58 PM ET, 10/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  GOP nomination, 2012 polls, Barack Obama, D.C.

Posted at 01:54 PM ET, 10/13/2011

#pollwatch: Cain ahead in GOP race? Obama’s jobs bill potentially popular; OWS, death penalty and ‘Jersey Shore’
By Scott Clement
A new poll shows Cain outpacing Romney; Obama’s jobs bill is potentially popular; Occupy Wall Street; “Jersey Shore”

By Scott Clement  |  01:54 PM ET, 10/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  GOP nomination, Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 12:20 PM ET, 10/05/2011

Obama’s jobs plan, the partisan perspective
By Peyton M. Craighill
A slim majority supports the plan, nearly six in 10 believe it will improve things, nearly half trust him more on job creation than Republicans in Congress.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  12:20 PM ET, 10/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Congress

Posted at 08:54 AM ET, 09/29/2011

Fewer than 1 in 3 say Obama favors the ‘have-nots,’ but many say GOP helps the ‘haves’
By Peyton M. Craighill and Jon Cohen
Nearly half of all Americans say President Obama treats “haves” and “have-nots” about equally, perhaps blunting “class warfare” criticism.

By Peyton M. Craighill and Jon Cohen  |  08:54 AM ET, 09/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama

Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 09/21/2011

#Pollwatch: Perry vs. Romney in S.C., and what parts of Obama’s Jobs act are popular?
By Scott Clement
Two new polls offer clear looks at the critical South Carolina GOP primary and one of Obama’s key reelection pitches: the American Jobs Act.

By Scott Clement  |  01:22 PM ET, 09/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 06:33 PM ET, 09/19/2011

Obama deficit cuts popular in polls
By Scott Clement
In laying out how he'd pay for the sweeping American Jobs Act, President Obama stuck to measures that have backers across the political spectrum, at least according to the polls.

By Scott Clement  |  06:33 PM ET, 09/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Federal Budget Deficit

Posted at 04:23 PM ET, 09/15/2011

What Obama’s approval ratings can’t tell us
By Scott Clement
A review of Gallup year-out approval ratings seems to bolster the case for generalizing results of Tuesday’s GOP win and Obama’s low approval ratings to next year’s presidential contest.

By Scott Clement  |  04:23 PM ET, 09/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 01:08 PM ET, 09/14/2011

Pollwatcher: Obama’s troubles on the economy, jobs and in California; new Virginia poll
By Peyton M. Craighill
A summary of daily polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  01:08 PM ET, 09/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, Virginia, Congress

Posted at 12:05 PM ET, 09/12/2011

Pollwatcher: Republican nomination, Obama approval, Anthony Weiner seat, interracial marriage
By Peyton M. Craighill
Summary of daily polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  12:05 PM ET, 09/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  GOP nomination, Barack Obama, Presidential Approval, Race

Posted at 05:03 PM ET, 09/08/2011

Obama speech: Will he channel Deion Sanders
By Scott Clement
So will it be pepperoni or stuffed crust? If his recent town hall forums are any indication, Obama plans to channel Sanders and endorse “both.”

By Scott Clement  |  05:03 PM ET, 09/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 02:03 PM ET, 08/30/2011

U.S. Muslims see Obama as ‘friendly’; GOP unfriendlyU.S. Muslims see Obama as ‘friendly’; GOP unfriendly
By Scott Clement and Peyton Craighill
More than three-quarters of U.S. Muslims approve of President Obama’s job performance and 64 percent say he is “friendly” toward Muslim Americans, according to a rare study of public opinion among one of the nation’s smallest but most high-profile religious groups.

By Scott Clement and Peyton Craighill  |  02:03 PM ET, 08/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama

Posted at 01:19 PM ET, 08/29/2011

Pollwatchers: Favorable reaction to Libya, Obama’s sinking approval, federal government ranks last
By Peyton M. Craighill
Summary of daily polling

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  01:19 PM ET, 08/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 11:37 AM ET, 08/26/2011

Poll watchers: Anger at government peaks; GOP favors Perry; MLK popular in retrospect
By Scott Clement
More than a quarter of Americans are outright “angry” at the federal government, almost doubling from March and the highest in polls dating to 1997, according to a new poll.

By Scott Clement  |  11:37 AM ET, 08/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Congress, Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 01:18 PM ET, 08/25/2011

Poll watchers: Rick Perry’s GOP shuffle, economic gloom and Steve Jobs
By Peyton M. Craighill
A review of daily polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  01:18 PM ET, 08/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  GOP nomination, Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 10:26 AM ET, 08/19/2011

Will Obama lose the battle but win the war in 2012?
By Scott Clement
With dwindling prospects of a booming recovery by next year’s election, Obama might pursue a new strategy.

By Scott Clement  |  10:26 AM ET, 08/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 04:17 PM ET, 08/17/2011

Unemployment rate fell in election swing states from 2010-2011
By Scott Clement
President Obama’s electoral fate may lie in how bad the economy feels in key states come November 2012.

By Scott Clement  |  04:17 PM ET, 08/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 09:57 AM ET, 08/15/2011

Poll watchers: GOP nomination update, Obama sub-40, economic gloom
By Scott Clement
A review of daily polling: GOP nomination update, Obama sub-40, economic gloom.

By Scott Clement  |  09:57 AM ET, 08/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  GOP nomination, Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 04:54 PM ET, 08/11/2011

Obama reelect numbers soften, poll says
By Scott Clement
Obama’s political standing is weaker in the aftermath of the fierce debt negotiations, especially among liberals. There’s also stronger opposition than support for a second term among swing voting groups who backed him in 2008, including independents and women.

By Scott Clement  |  04:54 PM ET, 08/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 04:37 PM ET, 08/10/2011

WP Poll: Public sees government badly off-kilter
By Peyton M. Craighill
Over seven in 10 Americans think the federal government is focused on the wrong things, a number that’s grown since the fall.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  04:37 PM ET, 08/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Crosstabs, Post Polls

Posted at 03:21 PM ET, 08/10/2011

Economic confidence in Republicans and Obama drops sharply
By Scott Clement
Americans report markedly less confidence in President Obama and congressional Republicans to make the right decisions about the country’s economic future in a new poll.

By Scott Clement  |  03:21 PM ET, 08/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Congress, Economy

Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 08/08/2011

Economic pessimism skyrockets as Obama approval rating declines
By Scott Clement
Fully sixty percent of Americans say the economy is in a downturn and getting worse in a new CNN poll, up from 36 percent in April and the highest in polls since early 2010.

By Scott Clement  |  12:45 PM ET, 08/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, Federal Budget Deficit

Posted at 11:57 AM ET, 08/04/2011

Poll watchers: Debt deal reactions, Fla. rates Obama, low opinions of Washington
By Peyton M. Craighill
A summary of recent polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  11:57 AM ET, 08/04/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Federal Budget Deficit

Posted at 05:37 PM ET, 08/03/2011

Poll watchers: Debt deal fallout, swing-state polling, consumer spending
By Scott Clement and Peyton M. Craighill
A summary of daily polling: Debt deal fallout, swing-state polling, consumer spending

By Scott Clement and Peyton M. Craighill  |  05:37 PM ET, 08/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Economy, Federal Budget Deficit, 2012 polls, Barack Obama

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 07/26/2011

Poll: Obama and Bush on economic recovery
By Peyton M. Craighill
Ownership of the bad economy continues to fall on former President Bush more so than the current administration or Republicans in Congress, according to a new poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  12:34 PM ET, 07/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy

Posted at 09:08 AM ET, 07/26/2011

Poll: Obama, GOP share disapproval on job creation
By Peyton M. Craighill
More than eight in 10 Americans say jobs are hard to find in their communities, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  09:08 AM ET, 07/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Congress

Posted at 04:08 PM ET, 07/20/2011

Poll: Obama and GOP (low) approval on economy, deficit and taxes
By Peyton M. Craighill
The public has sharply critical assessments of how the president and congressional Republicans are handling the economy, the federal budget deficit and taxes.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  04:08 PM ET, 07/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Economy, Federal Budget Deficit

Posted at 12:29 PM ET, 07/11/2011

Poll Watchers: Obama approval, Iowa GOP poll, smartphones, space shuttle
By Peyton M. Craighill
A summary of daily polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  12:29 PM ET, 07/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 06/28/2011

Poll Watchers: Gay marriage and Catholic Bishops; economics of unmarried living; Obama and the economy
By Peyton M. Craighill
A summary of daily polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  12:39 PM ET, 06/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Census 2010

Posted at 03:15 PM ET, 06/23/2011

Poll Watchers: Gas prices and the strategic oil reserve, Cantor and debt talks
By Scott Clement and Peyton Craighill
Strategic oil reserve – 75 percent say gas prices are an extremely or very important issue in a new Associated Press poll.

By Scott Clement and Peyton Craighill  |  03:15 PM ET, 06/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Federal Budget Deficit, Barack Obama, Congress

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 06/08/2011

Poll: Rating President Obama, the good, the bad and the ugly
By Peyton M. Craighill
When asked what President Obama has done especially well and particularly poorly, a random snapshot of the American public offered some colorful responses in the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  12:00 PM ET, 06/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 02:51 PM ET, 06/07/2011

Obama’s approval gains among young and independents disappear
By Scott Clement
President Obama’s largest approval increases following Osama bin Laden’s death have essentially disappeared according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Scott Clement  |  02:51 PM ET, 06/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama

Posted at 01:35 PM ET, 05/31/2011

Poll Watchers: John Boehner, Mark Zuckerberg and Obama approval
By Scott Clement
A summary of daily polling.

By Scott Clement  |  01:35 PM ET, 05/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Congress, Presidential Approval

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 05/26/2011

Poll Watchers: The changing GOP field, New Hampshire primary, Florida warms to Obama, Medicaid and politics
By Scott Clement
A summary of daily polling.

By Scott Clement  |  11:31 AM ET, 05/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, Health care

Posted at 01:03 PM ET, 05/11/2011

Poll Watchers: Public views post-Osama bin Laden
By Peyton M. Craighill
A daily round-up of public polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  01:03 PM ET, 05/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Afghanistan, Barack Obama

Posted at 10:10 AM ET, 05/09/2011

Virginia poll: Obama’s fortunes improve post OBL, but economy still lingers as issue
By Peyton M. Craighill
President Obama gained an immediate boost in his job ratings in a new Washington Post Virginia poll after the killing of Osama bin Laden, but people remain concered about the economy.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  10:10 AM ET, 05/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Virginia, Barack Obama, Presidential Approval

Posted at 10:28 AM ET, 05/05/2011

Poll: Number of ‘birthers’ plummets
By Jon Cohen
The number of “birthers” in the U.S. is sliced in half following the release of Barack Obama’s long-form birth certificate, according to a new Washington Post poll.

By Jon Cohen  |  10:28 AM ET, 05/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama

Posted at 10:53 AM ET, 04/29/2011

Poll Watchers: Tea party unfavorable, cutting the debt, GOP 2012 and the Royal Wedding
By Peyton M. Craighill
A daily round-up of public polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  10:53 AM ET, 04/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Federal Budget Deficit, GOP nomination

Posted at 09:07 AM ET, 04/19/2011

Obama and 2012: approval down, but little enthusiasm for GOP field
By Peyton M. Craighill
Early in President Obama’s re-election bid, he’s running ahead of each of the seven potential Republican challengers tested in the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  09:07 AM ET, 04/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 10:57 AM ET, 04/14/2011

Poll Watchers: Most important problem, tax time, Libya, mood of the country, Barry Bonds
By Peyton M. Craighill
A daily round-up of public polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  10:57 AM ET, 04/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Federal Budget Deficit, Barack Obama

Posted at 10:57 AM ET, 04/11/2011

Poll Watchers: Obama and the budget debate, health care reform
By Peyton M. Craighill
A daily round-up of public polling.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  10:57 AM ET, 04/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Federal Budget Deficit, Health care

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 03/30/2011

Poll Watchers: the Trump card, Afghanistan, Obama and the birthers, the economy and nuclear energy
By Peyton M. Craighill
New polling on Donald Trump and the 2012 election, the war in Afghanistan, President Obama and the birthers, declining views of the economy and support for new nuclear power plants.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  05:40 PM ET, 03/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Economy, GOP nomination

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 03/30/2011

Poll Watchers: New polls on government shutdown, budget debate, GOP 2012
By Peyton M. Craighill
New polling on a possible governement shutdown, Obama’s approval ratings, polling in Florida, Republican primary standings, support for military action in Libya and new interest.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  05:40 PM ET, 03/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, Federal Budget Deficit

Posted at 01:13 PM ET, 03/30/2011

Polls show public divided on military action in Libya
By Peyton M. Craighill
Two new polls on Libya reinforce the divided public reactions to the United States’ role there.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  01:13 PM ET, 03/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama

Posted at 07:39 PM ET, 03/28/2011

Military action in Libya: Polls show public skepticism
By Peyton M. Craighill
New data from the Pew Research Center published Monday afternoon show just under half the public – 47 percent – thinks it was the right decision to conduct military air strikes in Libya.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  07:39 PM ET, 03/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama

Posted at 01:44 PM ET, 03/23/2011

2012: Obama runs ahead in generic Pew poll
By Peyton M. Craighill
President Obama runs ahead of an unnamed Republican opponent by 47 to 37 percent in a new Pew poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill  |  01:44 PM ET, 03/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  2012 polls, Barack Obama, GOP nomination

Posted at 09:26 AM ET, 01/28/2011

Americans increasingly view global economy as a negative
By Peyton Craighill
A growing number of Americans consider the accelerating trend toward globalization a bad thing for the United States. At the same time, a majority now see being the world's No. 1 economic power as an important national goal.

By Peyton Craighill  |  09:26 AM ET, 01/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama

Posted at 03:50 PM ET, 01/26/2011

Polls: Public reaction to the State of the Union mostly positive
By Peyton Craighill
Two polls measured immediate reactions to President Obama's State of the Union speech Tuesday night. A CNN/Opinion Research found 84 percent of speech-watchers reacted positively to his message, 52 percent very positively. A CBS News poll found 91 percent of watchers approve of the proposals the president made.

By Peyton Craighill  |  03:50 PM ET, 01/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama

Posted at 12:11 PM ET, 01/24/2011

Policy priorities for the year ahead
By Peyton Craighill
President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday offers an opportunity to focus the nation's attention on the policy priorities for the year ahead - but the public is already honed in on Topic A, the economy.

By Peyton Craighill  |  12:11 PM ET, 01/24/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama

Posted at 11:25 AM ET, 01/17/2011

About a third of Americans say Obama's presidency has improved race relations
By Jon Cohen and Peyton M. Craighill
Despite high public expectations that Barack Obama's presidency would improve race relations in the country, barely more than a third of all Americans now say his tenure has made things better in this area, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Jon Cohen and Peyton M. Craighill  |  11:25 AM ET, 01/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama

Posted at 01:32 PM ET, 11/02/2010

Early exit poll: Obama hurting Dems nationally
By Kyle Dropp
Barack Obama is not on the ballot today, but he's affecting election outcomes across the country and appears to be hurting Democrats nationally,according to preliminary exit poll data. Thirty-seven percent say their vote was against President Obama, 24 percent say it was in favor of Obama, and 37 percent say...

By Kyle Dropp  |  01:32 PM ET, 11/02/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama | Tags:  Democrats, obama

Posted at 11:41 AM ET, 09/10/2010

Obama bringing needed change?
By Kyle Dropp
At his news conference this morning, President Obama expressed frustration about not being "able to create a greater spirit of cooperation in Washington." It's a complaint shared by most Americans. Fewer today say the commander-in-chief has brought needed change than at any time in his presidency, according to the new...

By Kyle Dropp  |  11:41 AM ET, 09/10/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama | Tags:  Obama, election 2010, independents, needed change, news conference

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 03/28/2010

The president's ratings on Afghanistan
By Jennifer Agiesta
With Barack Obama making his first trip to Afghanistan as president, a Washington Post poll finds the issue to be one of his strongest. It stands as the only issue tested on which his handling merits majority approval and more strong approval than disapproval. Afghanistan is also an issue where...

By Jennifer Agiesta  |  01:05 PM ET, 03/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 02/01/2010

Friendly new home turf for Obama in D.C.
By Jennifer Agiesta
A new Washington Post poll finds strong approval ratings for President Obama among Washington, D.C. residents, with nearly nine in 10 Washingtonians saying they approve of the way Obama is handing his job one year after he and his family took up residence at the most famous address in the...

By Jennifer Agiesta  |  01:15 PM ET, 02/01/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 09/15/2009

Union Members Likely a Friendly Audience for Obama
By Jennifer Agiesta
President Obama is likely to be in friendly territory at today's AFL-CIO Convention, as this week's Washington Post-ABC News poll finds union members and householders to be among his strongest boosters. Overall, nearly seven in 10 (68 percent) union members have a favorable impression of the president and 57 percent...

By Jennifer Agiesta  |  11:45 AM ET, 09/15/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Barack Obama