Poll: Americans Less Upbeat About Stimulus Bill's Impact

Obama has used the power and financial resources of the federal government repeatedly as he has dealt with the country's problems this year, to the consternation of his Republican critics. The poll found little change in underlying public attitudes toward government since the inauguration, with just over half saying they prefer a smaller government with fewer services to a larger government with more services. Independents, however, now split 61 to 35 percent in favor of a smaller government; they were more narrowly divided on this question a year ago (52 to 44 percent), before the financial crisis hit.

As in previous polls, Obama's ratings on foreign policy are generally higher than on domestic issues. Six in 10 said they approve of his handling of international affairs and 57 percent said they approve of his handling of the threat of terrorism. More said Obama's policies are making the United States safer from terrorism than think they've weakened the country, but as in April, a plurality said they've not made much of a difference.

But on specific questions of torture policy and the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, there is still broad public pushback to his announced policies. Under half, 45 percent, said they approve of shuttering the detention center, and when asked if they'd accept those terrorism suspects in their home states, support dropped further still, to 37 percent.

The country remains sharply divided on torture, with nearly half saying there are cases in which torture should be considered, a sharp contrast to the president's blanket condemnation of the practice.

On Iran, Obama has been criticized by some Republicans for the way he has responded to the recent demonstrations there, with his critics saying he has not been vocal enough in promoting democracy and in siding with the demonstrators. In the new survey, 52 percent said they approved of how he has handled the situation. There has been no noticeable change on this question since the last poll in April, before the controversy over the Iranian elections erupted.

The state of the Republican Party remains grim. Just 22 percent of those surveyed identified themselves as Republicans, near April's decades-long low point. Only 36 percent said they have a favorable impression of the GOP, with 56 percent saying they have an unfavorable impression. (Fifty-three percent said they have a favorable view of the Democratic Party.)

Obama has greater than 20-point leads over congressional Republicans in public trust on dealing with health care, the deficit, terrorism and the economy. The margin on the economy has slipped since April, but still remains a hefty 55 percent to 31 percent over GOP lawmakers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's ratings stand at 38 percent positive, 45 percent negative. The last time the Post-ABC poll asked about Pelosi was in April 2007. At that time, 53 percent said they approved of the way she was handling her job and 35 percent disapproved.

The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.