General Discussion

highplainsdem

(48,972 posts) Thu Feb 9, 2012, 11:13 AM Feb 2012

Gallup, Rasmussen show Obama's economic approval rating improving- more voters blame GWB for economy

TPM has an article on both polls:

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/polls-obamas-economic-rating-ticks-up

New numbers from Gallup show President Obama's approval on his handling of the economy ticking up in their numbers. The score is by no means pretty -- only 38 percent of Americans approve of Obama's performance on the economy versus a majority of 59 percent who do not. But the trend is up from his dismal 26 - 71 split in the summer at the height of the debt ceiling fight that destroyed nearly all DC pols' numbers. From their analysis:

That less-than-stellar rating is significantly lower than his 47% overall job approval rating in the latest Gallup Daily tracking figures -- indicating Americans are factoring more than the economy into account when reviewing the president's job performance. Obama's relatively strong ratings on national defense and foreign affairs could be playing a role. Further, if Americans' economic mood continues to improve, as is indicated in Gallup's latest Economic Confidence Index figures, Obama's economy rating will almost certainly continue to rise accordingly.

New Rassmussen data also shows Obama's position on the economy improving: Ras found that 40 percent of Americans approve of Obama's handling, versus 45 percent who say the opposite. That's the highest rating Obama has had in their numbers since Feburary of last year.

-snip-

Direct link to the article at Gallup:

Obama's Economic Approval Rating Improves

And more from the Rasmussen survey:

More Voters Than Ever Blame Bush, Not Obama, for Bad Economy

Voter confidence in President Obama’s handling of the economy is at its highest level in a year’s time. That’s in line with the recent upticks in overall economic confidence and in Obama’s job approval ratings as measured by the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Forty percent (40%) of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the president’s performance in the economic area as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s up from 36% a week ago and is the highest positive finding since the first week in February 2011. Obama seldom has cracked the 40% mark in regular surveying since the first year of his presidency.

Rasmussen requires a subscription to read the entire article, and they don't give the percentage of voters who blame Bush in the snipped you can read at that link.

But their previous surveys have found as many as 54% of voters blaming Bush

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/may_2011/54_blame_bush_recession_for_current_economic_problems_39_blame_obama

so the new figure has to be even higher than that.

So Republicans who are hoping that voters won't listen when this administration correctly lays the blame on the Bush administration don't understand how most voters feel.