Obama Administration

Most Voters Trust Their Own Economic Judgment More than Obama, Romney

Voters overwhelmingly trust their own judgment on economic matters more than the judgment of either President Obama or Mitt Romney. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of Likely U.S. Voters trust the president more than themselves when it comes to the economic issues facing the nation. Just 18% say the same of Romney. But 65% of voters have more confidence in their own economic judgment than in Obama’s.  Only slightly more (68%) hold more confidence in themselves than in Romney when it comes to the major economic issues of the day. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on April 6-7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

48% Blame Bad Economy on Bush Recession, 46% Blame Obama's Policies

More voters are putting the blame on President Obama's policies when it comes to today's still-struggling economy.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 48% still place more blame on the economic recession that began under President George W. Bush, but that ties the lowest finding in nearly three years of tracking. Now, nearly as many (46%) say the current president's policies are more to blame, the highest finding since August 2010. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Two separate surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on March 7-8 and 13-14, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Evenly Divided On Obama’s Handling of Economy

The number of voters who give President Obama positive marks for his handling of the economy is at its highest level in over two years of regular tracking.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the president’s handling of economic issues as good or excellent, up two points from a month ago and his best showing since mid-February 2010.  Forty-two percent (42%) still rate Obama’s performance in this area as poor, but that's the lowest level of criticism since last June. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 5-6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

64% Have No Opinion of Energy Secretary Steven Chu

Energy Secretary Steven Chu assured a congressional committee Thursday that the Obama administration wants to lower gas prices after  comments he made last week suggested that the administration is more interested in reducing oil dependence than in lowering the price at the pump. Yet despite his central role in dealing with one of the country's current economic priorities, most voters still don't know enough about Chu to have any kind of opinion of him.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 14% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Chu, while 21% view him unfavorably. This includes four percent (4%) with a Very Favorable view of the Nobel Prize-winning Cabinet secretary and 12% with a Very Unfavorable one. However, even though Chu has been a member of President Obama's Cabinet for over three years now, 64% have no opinion of him. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on February 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

42% Give Obama Good or Excellent Marks for Leadership

Views of President Obama's leadership have narrowed again since his State of the Union address in January.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate Obama’s leadership as good or excellent. This is down from 48% in January, his highest positives since September 2009. But nearly as many (40%) view him as a poor leader, up from 34% in January. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 1-2, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Obama Full-Month Approval Numbers Rise To Year-High

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.

Overall, approval of the president inched up further in February, continuing a trend first noted in January and last month resulting in his highest monthly approval index in one year.

Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night. The monthly numbers in this article are based on approximately 15,000 interviews each month with likely voters. The margin of sampling error is less than +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Voters View Geithner, Holder Slightly More Favorably

All boats rise with the tide? Like President Obama's job approval ratings in recent weeks, voter perceptions of two of his top Cabinet officers - Attorney General Eric Holder and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner - are up slightly since the end of last year.

Despite a House resolution calling for Holder's resignation following the botched Fast and Furious investigation involving Mexican drug cartels, 26% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the attorney general, up from 19% in mid-December.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (40%) still views Holder unfavorably, but that's down three points from his all-time high of 43% in December. Thirty-nine percent (39%) have no opinion of him. The new findings include nine percent with a Very Favorable view of Holder and 24% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 16-17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% of Catholics Disapprove of Obama’s Job Performance

Catholics strongly disapprove of the job President Obama is doing as the debate continues over his administration’s new policy forcing Catholic institutions to pay for contraception they morally oppose. While the president’s overall job approval ratings have improved over the past couple of months, they have remained steady among Catholics.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of likely Catholic voters nationwide at least somewhat disapprove of the president’s job performance, while 40% at least somewhat approve. But the passion’s on the side of those who don’t like the job he’s doing: 44% Strongly Disapprove versus 19% who Strongly Approve.

The survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted February 6-12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Grow More Aware of Defense Secretary Panetta

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who recently announced significant cuts to the defense budget and plans for the United States to end its combat role in Afghanistan earlier than scheduled, is a bit more recognizable to voters these days. So far, this increased awareness has mostly worked in his favor.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 39% view Panetta at least somewhat favorably, up 10 points from December. Thirty-four percent (34%) now view the former Central Intelligence Agency director unfavorably, up only slightly from the last survey. These findings include Very Favorable marks from 14% and Very Unfavorable reviews from 12%.

Twenty-seven percent (27%) of voters still don’t know enough about Panetta to offer an opinion, but that’s down from 38% in December.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted February 4-5, 2012 and February 6-7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Obama Full-Month Approval Hits Highest Point Since June

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.

Overall, while the president's numbers improved only slightly in January, he now enjoys his highest monthly approval index since June of last year.

In January, 24% of voters Strongly Approved of the president’s job performance, up a point from the previous month.   The number who Strongly Disapproved of the job Obama is doing was at 39% in January, down one point from December.

His full-month Presidential Approval Index rating for January was -15, up two points from December and the president’s best showing since June.  However, the president started 2011 with a rating of -11 and enjoyed a positive index of 23 when he first assumed office in January 2009.

Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night. The monthly numbers in this article are based on approximately 15,000 interviews each month with likely voters. The margin of sampling error is less than +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

48% Give Obama Positive Marks On Leadership

In a survey conducted a week after President Obama’s third State of the Union Address, positive reviews for the president’s leadership are the highest measured since late 2009.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 48% now give Obama good or excellent marks as a leader, including 20% who give him an excellent grade. Thirty-four percent (34%) rate his leadership as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Education, Job Make A Difference In How Voters Rate Obama

Opinions of President Obama’s job performance vary depending on a voter’s level of education and the job he or she holds.

Recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveying of Likely U.S. Voters finds that 57% of those who attended high school but did not graduate at least somewhat approve of the job the president is doing. Similarly, 56% of voters who attended graduate school approve of Obama’s performance.

The survey of 7,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted from January 9-22, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Obama's Veep? Voters Like Clinton More Than Biden

Speculation has risen once again about President Obama dumping Vice President Joe Biden and replacing him with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as his running mate this year, and Rasmussen Reports polling shows why some of the president's supporters consider that a good move.

Forty-two percent (42%) of Likely U.S. Voters share a favorable opinion of Biden, including 15% who view the Delaware Democrat Very Favorably, according to a recent national telephone survey. But most voters (52%) view Biden unfavorably, including Very Unfavorable reviews from 30%. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 5-6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

37% Give Obama Positive Ratings on Economy

The economy remains the number one issue on voters’ minds, and perceptions of President Obama’s handling of economic issues have improved slightly. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the way Obama is dealing with the economy as good or excellent, his highest positives since July.  But even more (43%) still give the president poor marks in this area, although that’s the lowest finding measured in six months.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).   Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 9-10, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

48% Still Blame Bush for Bad Economy; 45% Blame Obama’s Policies

Voters now blame President Bush only slightly more than President Obama for the continuing bad economy. It’s the narrowest gap between the two in nearly 18 months.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters still say the nation’s current economic problems are caused more by the recession that began under Bush than by Obama’s policies. But now nearly as many (45%) blame Obama’s policies more. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 5-6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Obama Full-Month Approval Index Inches Up in December

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.

Overall, the president's numbers improved slightly in December, though he ends 2011 with a lower rating than he began it.

In December, 23% of voters Strongly Approved of the president’s job performance, up two points from the previous month.   The number who Strongly Disapproved of the president’s performance in December was at 40%, showing no change from November.

President Obama's Job Approval Faith Gap

Opinions about President Obama are divided sharply along lines of faith and religious participation.

New Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveying of Likely U.S. Voters shows that the president earns a job approval rating of 58% among those who rarely or never attend church or religious services. However, among those who attend services every week or nearly every week, just 38% offer their approval. Among those who attend more than one service a week, approval is even lower at 31%.

The survey of 6,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted from December 12-22, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters View Holder More Negatively Amid Calls For Resignation

Amidst a House resolution calling for his resignation following a botched operation to investigate Mexican drug cartels, Attorney General Eric Holder’s unfavorable marks are at the highest level measured. But more than a third of voters still have no opinion of him.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that only 19% share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Holder while 43% view him unfavorably.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 10-11, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

48% Rate Obama’s Handling of Economy As Poor

Although President Obama changed his holiday vacation plans to push Congress on economic issues, voters have not changed their views of how the president is performing when it comes to the economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters rate Obama’s handling of economic issues as poor.