Raleigh, N.C. – In PPP’s first national poll of 2014, President Obama’s approval rating has increased slightly from his record low last month. It’s far from a cause of celebration in the White House, though, as 41% of voters now approve of the job he’s doing, as opposed to 53% who disapprove. Obama’s signature policy achievement, the Affordable Care Act, has seen similarly seen a tepid improvement, with 38% approving and 52% disapproving.
At the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, Republicans have topped Democrats in the generic Congressional ballot for the first time this election cycle (42/40). Yet Congressional Republicans continue to be wildly unpopular; 20% of voters approve of the job they’re doing and 68% disapprove. Congressional Democrats fare somewhat better (32/59). On the whole, Congress’ approval ratings have dipped even lower, now down to just 6%. Voters’ approval ratings of their own Members of Congress is better in comparison (37/47), but has dropped markedly in the past month (41/44 in December).
On the issues, a majority of voters continue to support raising the minimum wage to $10/hour (55/36), with even 28% of Republicans supporting. Almost twice as many voters support continuing unemployment benefits instead of cutting them off (63/32), and even 44% of Republicans think the benefits should be continued.
Looking ahead to the Super Bowl, the Broncos continue to be America’s new favorite team, with 49% rooting for them vs. 22% rooting for the Seahawks. Broncos QB Peyton Manning continues to be one of America’s most favored players; at 64% his favorability rating has improved since last month. Public opinion on the Seahawks All-Pro cornerback, Richard Sherman, is more muted, with only 15% having a favorable opinion versus 28% who have an unfavorable opinion.
“In the years we’ve been polling on the Super Bowl this is the most lopsided we’ve seen it in terms of who Americans are rooting for,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Peyton Manning’s personal popularity has most people pulling for the Broncos.”
PPP surveyed 845 registered voters from January 23rd to 26th. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 3.4%. 80% of interviews for the poll were conducted over the phone with 20% interviewed over the internet to reach respondents who don’t have landline telephones.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 41%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mitt Romney?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of the job
Congressional Democrats are doing?
Approve …………………………………………………. 32%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 59%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of the job
Congressional Republicans are doing?
Approve …………………………………………………. 20%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 68%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of the job
Congress overall is doing?
Approve …………………………………………………. 6%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 85%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of the job your
own member of Congress is doing?
Approve …………………………………………………. 37%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q7 If there was an election for the U.S. House
today, would you vote for the Democratic or
Republican candidate from your district?
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 40%
Republican……………………………………………… 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q8 Do you approve or disapprove of the Affordable
Care Act?
Approve …………………………………………………. 38%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q9 Do you think the implementation of the
Affordable Care Act so far has been very
successful, somewhat successful, somewhat
unsuccessful, very unsuccessful, or are you
not sure?
Very successful……………………………………….. 6%
Somewhat successful ………………………………. 26%
Somewhat unsuccessful …………………………… 14%
Very unsuccessful……………………………………. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q10 Would you support or oppose raising the
minimum wage to $10 an hour?
Support ………………………………………………….. 55%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q11 Congress is considering whether to continue or
cut off federal unemployment benefits for
workers whose state unemployment benefits
have ended but cannot find a job. Do you think
that Congress should continue or cut off federal
unemployment benefits at this time?
Strongly feel they should continue them……… 43%
Somewhat think they should continue them…. 20%
Strongly feel they should cut them off…………. 23%
Somewhat think they should cut them off ……. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Donald Trump?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 61%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q13 Do you plan to watch the Super Bowl next
weekend, or not?
Plan to watch ………………………………………….. 65%
Don’t plan to watch ………………………………….. 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q14 (Asked only of those who plan to watch:) Do
you plan to watch the Super Bowl more for the
game or the TV ads?
The game……………………………………………….. 65%
The ads………………………………………………….. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q15 Who do you want to win the Super Bowl: the
Denver Broncos or the Seattle Seahawks?
Broncos………………………………………………….. 49%
Seahawks ………………………………………………. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q16 Regardless of who you’re rooting for, who do
you think will win the Super Bowl: the Denver
Broncos or the Seattle Seahawks?
Broncos………………………………………………….. 53%
Seahawks ………………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q17 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Peyton Manning?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 64%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q18 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Russell Wilson?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 58%
Q19 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Richard Sherman?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 15%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 57%
Q20 In the feud between Michael Crabtree and
Richard Sherman, whose side do you take?
Michael Crabtree …………………………………….. 20%
Richard Sherman…………………………………….. 11%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 70%
Q21 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Erin Andrews?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 21%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 71%
Q22 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 42%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 10%
Q23 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 13%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 26%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 18%
Q24 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q25 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 39%
Republican……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 26%
Q26 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 9%
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q27 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 15%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 21%
Q28 Mode
Phone ……………………………………………………. 80%
Internet ………………………………………………….. 20%
