Raleigh, N.C. – After an unusually bad July in PPP’s national poll, President Barack Obama has seen a lot of improvement on several fronts. His national approval rating has rebounded, moving from 48-47 in June, to 45-52 last month, back to 47-48 now. For five of the last eight months, Obama has been one point above or below breaking even; in others, he was two points below and four points above.
PPP has asked voters’ approval of Obama’s health care plan for 12 months now, and with 46% approving and 48% disapproving, that is the highest level of approval and the second best approval margin since the first month, September 2009, when it was 45-46. This marks a huge shift since July (40-53).
In another improvement for Obama, 50% still say they prefer having Obama as president, compared to 43% who would rather have George W. Bush back. In April, Obama won only 48-46. While independents this year generally favor Republican candidates and disapprove of Obama, they prefer Obama against Bush, 53-36, versus April’s 49-37.
When asked who they think is more responsible for the state of the economy, 49% picked Bush, to 40% choosing Obama. Independents say Bush, 52-38. Fewer Republicans, 75%, pick Obama than Democrats pick Bush, 81%.
Of the last five presidents, 41% think Obama reminds them most of Bill Clinton, to 35% who say Jimmy Carter, 6% Ronald Reagan, and the Bushes each at 2%. Democrats say Clinton, 63-13. Republicans say Carter, 57-24, as do independents, 37-30.
“July could’ve been a blip on the radar. Obama’s more overt use of Bush in his stump speech of late could resonate with voters, particularly with independents who don’t want to return to past economic policies,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 606 American voters from August 6th to 9th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.0%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
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?
Approve…………….. 47%
Disapprove………… 48%
Not sure ……………. 5%
Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion?
Support ………………………………………………….. 46%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 48%
No opinion………………………………………………. 7%
Q3 Do you think George W. Bush or Barack
Obama is more responsible for the current
state of the economy?
George W. Bush ……………………………………… 49%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q4 Would you rather have Barack Obama or
George W. Bush as President right now?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
George W. Bush ……………………………………… 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q5 Out of the last 5 Presidents: Jimmy Carter,
Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill
Clinton, and George W. Bush, who do you
think Barack Obama is most similar to?
Jimmy Carter ………………………………………….. 35%
Ronald Reagan……………………………………….. 6%
George H.W. Bush…………………………………… 2%
Bill Clinton………………………………………………. 41%
George W. Bush ……………………………………… 2%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q6 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 45%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q7 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 42%
Conservative…………………………………………… 39%
Q8 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q9 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……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 25%
Q10 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q11 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………………………………………………….. 11%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 49%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 16%
Q12 How would you describe your current
employment status? If you are employed full
time, press 1. If you are employed part time,
press 2. If you are unemployed and looking for
work, press 3. If you are a student, press 4. If
you are a homemaker, press 5. If other, press
6
Full Time………………………………………………… 46%
Part Time ……………………………………………….. 10%
Unemployed……………………………………………. 8%
Student ………………………………………………….. 3%
Homemaker ……………………………………………. 8%
Other……………………………………………………… 25%
Q13 Have you ever smoked Marijuana? If yes,
press 1. If no, press 2. If you don’t care to
say, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 27%
No …………………………………………………………. 63%
N/A………………………………………………………… 11%
