by Mark Silva
With President Barack Obama seeing "glimmers of hope'' in the economy, more than two-thirds of Americans surveyed say they see hope in his ability to do the right thing for the economy - placing more confidence in Obama than in Republican leaders in Congress or even the Federal Reserve chairman.
A new Gallup Poll has found that 71 percent place "a great deal or a fair amount'' of confidence in the president to do or recommend the right things for an economic recovery.
Just 51 percent feel the same way about Democratic leaders of Congress, and 38 percent place that same confidence in Republican leaders of Congress.
Obama stands ahead of his own Cabinet appointee in this field -- with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner drawing 47 percent confidence in the Gallup survey. And Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke draws 49 percent of the public's confidence in the poll.
Obama, who has won passage of a $787-billion economic stimulus and also advanced multibillion-dollar plans to aide homeowners at risk of foreclosure, the ailing auto industry and other sectors of the economy, has predicted that tough times are still ahead, yet maintains that he is seeing signs of improvement in an economy in recession for more than a year.
"What you're starting to see is glimmers of hope across the economy,'' the president said last week, after meeting with economic advisers and Bernanke at the White House.
"The economy is still under severe stress,'' he said. "We're still seeing a lot of job losses, a lot of hardship, people finding themselves in very difficult situations either because they've lost their home, they've seen their savings deteriorate, and they're still at risk of losing their jobs....So we've still got a lot of work to do.''
Pressed to say if he believes the recession is abating, the president replied: "I'm saying we're seeing progress.''
The Gallup Poll conducted April 6-9 ranks Obama as the government leader whom Americans are placing most confidence in to right the economy.
Americans surveyed by Gallup place roughly the same amount of confidence in the Federal Reserve chairman and the treasury secretary, who has pushed for federal assistance for the financial markets and homeowners while demanding concessions from the automakers - forcing the resignation of the former chairman of General Motors as the company has sought additional aid from the federal government.
Bernanke, who became Fed chairman on former President George W. Bush's watch in 2006, was instrumental in convincing Congress before Obama took office to provide a $700 billion bailout fund for the rescue of failing financial firms, American International Group and others.
"It is unlikely that many Americans have a highly sophisticated understanding of the complex economic policies enacted in the last several months by either Bernanke or Geithner,'' reports Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll. " Yet only 17 percent and 14 percent of Americans, respectively, are not able or willing to give an opinion on confidence in these two men's actions on the economy.''
Newport notes that while "Americans are not overwhelmingly positive about either the Democratic or the Republican leaders in Congress... still, the Democrats fare better.''
The numbers suggest the president may find public support in his push for a $3.55-trillion federal budget which boosts spending on energy, healthcare and education, while Republican leaders protest the president's new spending and the short-term record deficits that come with it. Obama pledges to cut the deficit in half by the end of his term.
The Gallup survey of 1,027 adults carries a possible margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, according to Gallup. The latest Gallup tracking polling also finds that Obama's overall job-approval rating stands at 62 percent, roughly where it has stood for two months.
Comments
Obama's energy bill will cripple America and cause a great deal of hardship.
Like to know age, race, gender, party affiliation, employed, unemployed information on those participating in survey.
Also included should be all questions asked. And how those questions were worded.
Print the questionaire.
Think more information is needed other than their responses.
From now on, new agencies, reporters need to give those details.
The public needs more information due to the slant of reporters and for that matter, pollsters.
The trust just isn't there.
Posted by: dianne | April 13, 2009 8:53 AM
Well Terry, seems to me you and your party are still the losers with no momentum at all. Grin and bare it little guy.
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 13, 2009 9:05 AM
These numbers are astounding. Not that Americans are giving Obama a break, but that they are willing to take a deep breath and see the economic crisis for what it is; not Obama's fault.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | April 13, 2009 9:36 AM
If anybody has ever taken a college course in statistics, you would know by now that pollsters can produce any statistic they want based on their own political belief system. Never once has a pollster called my house...my answer would be...NO CONFIDENCE AT ALL!!!! He's nothing but a media sensation! And the flock of sheep that follow him are blind and ignorant!!!!
Posted by: Joe | April 13, 2009 9:44 AM
Interesting phrasing in the questions...basically the poll is a popularity contest- Obama usually wins these. So not sure why this is useful info.
Respondents were asked if Obama would do the recommended right thing for the economy- OR would he recommended right thing come from Bernanke, Geitner or either party in congress. This is purely a measure of Obama's personal appeal- not an approval of any of his policies. - If it were- Congress, who wrote the recent stimulus bill should have received much more credit or criticism.
A more accurate poll to determine confidence should have been phrased as a cost benefit question, that clearly asks respondents to weigh in on the policy not the players... Are you confident that massive increases in debt and deficit spending is the right response to our current economic downturn?
OR
Should we trust the american people or the federal government to lead us out of the recession?
Posted by: heartburn | April 13, 2009 10:46 AM
And the flock of sheep that follow him are blind and ignorant!!!!
Posted by: Joe | April 13, 2009 9:44 AM
Until you find a poll with numbers you like........then things will change!
Posted by: bill r. | April 13, 2009 10:47 AM
"And the flock of sheep that follow him are blind and ignorant!!!!"
Posted by: Joe | April 13, 2009 9:44 AM
============================
Sounds like something out of the last 8 years.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | April 13, 2009 10:47 AM
Mark, Mark, Mark. SURELY you've had plenty of opportunity to learn by now that any poll that doesn't show Republicans favorably is inherently WRONG. "Joe" sums it up perfectly: If the poll doesn't reflect "MY" opinion (or at least a generally Conservative opinion), it's suspect. On the other hand, when you do get a poll showing how great Republicans are, though, do feel free to post that because the "Joes" will laud its irreproachable accuracy to the rafters.
Posted by: Op109 | April 13, 2009 12:26 PM
Mark, Mark, Mark. SURELY you've had plenty of opportunity to learn by now that any poll that doesn't show Republicans favorably is inherently WRONG.
Posted by: Op109 | April 13, 2009 12:26 PM
Right.... (Crickets)
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 13, 2009 2:22 PM
Posted by: heartburn | April 13, 2009 10:46 AM
heartburn, do you write Republican push polls for a living?
How do you like these questions:
Should we trust the market that created this mess economic to solve it?
Should the Federal governnment stand idlely by while unemployment reaches 10% or highr?
Who do you trust on the economy more, the Federal Government, or large multinational corporations and their multi-millionaire executives?
Posted by: Mel | April 13, 2009 4:42 PM
Posted by: Mel | April 13, 2009 4:42 PM
Mel- No I don't write polls for a living... but I do try to look at issues with a comon sense approach..
I would value your questions
(modified to not be so leading or obviously critical of a negative response) in a poll much more than the questions in the gallup poll- at least your questions would actually tell us something about public opinion and possibly voters knowledge of economic history...
Taking the poll and spinning it as public support of Obama's economic policy insults everybodies intelligence...
Posted by: heartburn | April 13, 2009 5:04 PM
Scottie,
.
This is a poll based upon expectations, not accomplishments - as even a loon like you stated "President Obama's plan hasn't even taken hold yet so why don't we wait and see before passing judgment."
You get right about as often as February 29th comes around, but I give you credit when you are.
.
Mel,
.
I'll trust the market. capitalism has built this country, look 90 miles south for an example of a federal gov't in charge of an economy.
Posted by: Terry | April 13, 2009 7:38 PM
Sure Terry boy whatever you say ;-)
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 13, 2009 11:28 PM
I would like to know where these figurers come from. I for one do not feel or see any recovery anytime soon, and there's millions of others that are unemployed that would agree with me.
Posted by: Paul | April 14, 2009 9:26 AM
I would like to know where these figurers come from. I for one do not feel or see any recovery anytime soon, and there's millions of others that are unemployed that would agree with me.
Posted by: Paul | April 14, 2009 9:26 AM
Paul, can you read or what? The question was: "Please tell me how much confidence you have in each to do or recommend the right thing for the economy" Doesnt say anything about any results! Man you people on the right are just dumber than the majority of Americans thought! Thank God - yes God - that you guys lost!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 14, 2009 1:13 PM
Re: post by Scot S. Blakeley,
Surely your old enough not to believe everything you read. It's all a big game with the Democrats, its call the "Spin Game". When all the lambs of the Democrats find themselves taxed to the hilt, high inflation, and our dollar about .35 cents you will be sorry. And I'll be there to tell you I told you so, tax & spend, tax & spend sounds like a broken record to me.
Posted by: Paul | April 14, 2009 2:06 PM
Scottie,
.
Glad you are finally learning on when to throw in the towel.
.
Paul,
.
You will learn that Scottie reads HuffPo and the dailyKos and he believes it all. BO has done no wrong.
Posted by: Terry | April 14, 2009 9:52 PM
You will learn that Scottie reads HuffPo and the dailyKos and he believes it all. BO has done no wrong.
Posted by: Terry | April 14, 2009 9:52 PM
No idea who or what they are but I'm glad to see you're getting a good elementary education Terry.
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 14, 2009 10:20 PM
Scottie,
.
You are pretty stupid if you have never heard of the HuffPo or DailyKos. Then again, you've been proving your stupidity in here for months now.
.
Happ Holiday today!!!
Posted by: Terry | April 15, 2009 6:51 AM
Look whos calling the kettle black! Name calling are your party's best ASSets.
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 15, 2009 12:55 PM
Scottie,
Do you read what your fellow loons in here say?
Try a book
http://www.amazon.com/Gross-National-Happiness-Matters-America/dp/0465002781
Posted by: Terry | April 15, 2009 8:20 PM
Terry try a new place to live:
http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/facilities/crpc/facility.htm
Much more suitable for you and your loud mouth wingnuts living in your fantasy world..
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 16, 2009 7:00 AM
Oh and by the way, I LOVE that you guys are bringing "TeaBagging" into the spot light. If you only knew! LOL MORONS!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | April 16, 2009 5:41 PM
Scottie,
Is that housing recommendation based upon personal experience?
Posted by: Terry | April 17, 2009 6:59 PM