Raleigh, N.C. – There continue to be more Americans who disapprove than are happy with Barack Obama’s job performance and as a result the country is pretty evenly divided on whether it would rather have Obama or George W. Bush in the White House right now.
46% of voters like the job Obama is doing while 48% disapprove of him. Democrats and Republicans give him nearly mirror opposite reviews, with 84% of voters in his own party saying that Obama is doing a good job while 87% in the opposite party are unhappy with him. Independents lean slightly against the President as well, by a 41/45 margin.
Support for the health care bill has remained steady since its passage last month: 45% of Americans said they supported it four weeks ago and that level of support now remains the same. 50% are opposed. For the most part voters opposed to the bill also support its repeal, and a small plurality of voters would like to see that as a top focus for Congress this year.
46% of Americans now say they would rather have George W. Bush as President to 48% who say they prefer Obama. Although independents disapprove of Obama on balance, they do prefer him to Bush by a 49/37 margin and that’s what puts him ahead on that measure.
“George W. Bush’s approval ratings were horrid his final few years in office because even a decent number of Republicans and conservative leaning independents were unhappy with him,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Now those folks wish they could have him back over Obama.”
PPP surveyed 622 registered voters from April 9th to 11th. The margin of error is +/-3.9%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Barack
Obama’s job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re
not sure, press 3.
Approve…………….. 46%
Disapprove………… 48%
Not Sure……………. 6%
Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion? If you support it, press 1. If you
oppose it, press 2. If you don’t have an opinion,
press 3.
Support ………………………………………………….. 45%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 50%
No Opinion……………………………………………… 5%
Q3 Do you support or oppose repealing the health
care bill that was passed last month? If you
support repeal, press 1. If you oppose repeal,
press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.
Support ………………………………………………….. 53%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 40%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 8%
Q4 Do you think Congress should make repealing
the health care bill one of its top priorities for
the rest of the year? If yes, press 1. If no,
press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 47%
No …………………………………………………………. 44%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 8%
Q5 Would you rather have Barack Obama or
George W. Bush as President right now? If
Barack Obama, press 1. If George W. Bush,
press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.
Obama…………………………………………………… 48%
Bush ……………………………………………………… 46%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 6%
Q6 If there was a Presidential election this month,
do you think Barack Obama would win
reelection? If yes, press 1. If no, press 2. If
you’re not sure, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 45%
No …………………………………………………………. 44%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 11%
Q7 Who did you vote for President last year? If
John McCain, press 1. If Barack Obama,
press 2. If someone else or you don’t
remember, press 3.
McCain…………………………………………………… 45%
Obama…………………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/don’t remember ………………….. 7%
Q8 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 21%
Moderate………………………………………………… 37%
Conservative…………………………………………… 42%
Q9 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%
Q10 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 38%
Republican……………………………………………… 38%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 24%
Q11 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q12 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 9%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 43%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 21%
