Tennessee and Texas were safely in John McCain’s column on Election Day, but over two months later views of the new Democratic president and his agenda are surprisingly high in the two reliably Republican states.

In a snapshot look at attitudes in McCain country, Rasmussen Reports finds that concerns about the current economic situation appear to override traditional political considerations.

In Texas, for example, 62% of voters approve of Barack Obama’s performance to date, including 41% who Strongly Approve. Thirty-five percent (35%) disapprove, with 19% who Strongly Disapprove. These numbers are just slightly below Obama’s ratings in the daily Presidential Approval Index.

Only 47% of Texas voters had a favorable opinion of Obama in the last poll before Election Day.

Remember, too, this is a state that gives Obama’s predecessor in the White House - and Texas favorite son - George W. Bush higher marks than the rest of the country.

Sixty percent (60%) of Tennessee voters approve of Obama’s job performance, including 39% who Strongly Approve. Thirty-five percent (35%) disapprove, 21% of whom Strongly Disapprove.

In the final Tennessee survey before Election Day, 45% viewed Obama favorably.

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Forty-two percent (42%) of voters in Tennessee favor Obama’s proposed $825-billion economic rescue plan, while 36% oppose it and 22% are not sure. Again, this is just below the national finding. The plan has 45% support nationwide.

But 50% of Tennessee voters also say an economic recovery plan is Very Important to the recovery of the economy, and just 10% say it’s not at all important. Sixty percent (60%) say tax cuts are the key to that recovery, while 22% say new government spending will do more to stimulate the economy.

Obama’s plan includes $275 billion in tax cuts and $550 billion in new spending for infrastructure, education and job creation, among other things. He initially proposed $350 billion in tax cuts, but the Democratic congressional leadership wanted more spending.

Whatever Washington does, 57% of Tennessee voters say the United States will still be in recession at the end of this year. Fifteen percent (15%) say the economy will be out of recession by then, and 28% aren’t sure.

An identical number of Texas voters (57%) agree that the recession will still be with us at year’s end, although 19% disagree and 24% are undecided.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Texas voters say renewable energy projects such as wind and solar collection should be the priority if Congress approves the money for infrastructure. Twenty-nine percent (29%) want to see improvements to roads and bridges first. Nine percent (9%) favor water or flood control projects, four percent (4%) the building of community centers and money for the arts, and 20% are not sure which should come first.

Of course, just 33% of voters in Tennessee, which went for McCain over Obama 57% to 42%, are even somewhat confident that policymakers in Washington know what they’re doing on the economy. Only six percent (6%) of that group are Very Confident, while 22% are not at all confident in our leaders.

Nationally, just 37% of Americans are at least somewhat confident that their political leaders know what they’re doing as they try to address the nation’s economic problems.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of Tennessee voters say Congress will listen to lobbyists most as they shape the economic recovery plan, but 26% believe they will listen to Obama more. Only 17% think taxpayers will have the ear of Congress the most. Voters in the Volunteer State think Obama will have more influence on Congress than voters nationwide.

In Texas, 39% even think it’s at least somewhat likely that the state – which gave 55% of its votes to McCain – will go Democrat in the next presidential election. Nineteen percent (19%) say it’s Very Likely. However, 37% say it’s not very likely, and another 11% say it’s not likely at all.

Twenty-two percent (22%) of women voters in Texas believe it’s Very Likely versus 15% of male voters.

Predictably, 33% of Democrats say it’s Very Likely, compared to 13% of GOP voters – and, perhaps most importantly, just nine percent (9%) of unaffiliated voters.

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See survey questions and toplines for Texas and Tennessee. Texas and Tennessee crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.