Obama's approval, 'mixed reviews'

by Mark Silva

Add another poll to the fire:

This, one, a sizeable survey from the Pew Research Center, pegs President Barack Obama's overall job-approval at 61 percent - arriving in the midst of two other surveys (New York Times/CBS and Wall Street Journal/NBC) that place Obama's approval at 63 percent and 56 percent respectively.

This one, too, finds "mixed reviews'' of the president's policies.

That job approval is down from 64 percent in the Pew poll, while 65 percent of those surveyed by the independent research center voice continued optimism that the president's policies will improve the economy.

Fewer - 55 percent - are optimistic that Obama will cut the federal budget deficit over the long term. At $1.8 trillion this year, it already has set a runaway record. Obama pledges to cut it in half by the end of his term.

Most - 53 percent - say the president's policies have "not had an effect so far'' on the economy or it is too early to tell. And nearly half - 44 percent - disapprove of his handling of the automotive industry, while just 47 percent approved of what Obama has done with GM and Chrysler.

The survey of 1,502 adults was conducted June 10-14, shortly after Obama's last international journey.

And it found that 57 percent of those surveyed approve of Obama's handling of foreign policy - "largely unchanged'' from April (61 percent).

Only about one-in-five Americans (21 percent) told Pew that the United States is less safe from terrorism under the Obama administration than it was under the Bush administration. More than four-in-ten (44 percent) said "Obama's policies have not made a difference, while 28 percent believe they have made the nation safer from terrorism,'' Pew reports.

Pew continues to find "widespread support for changing the health care system so that all Americans have insurance that covers all medically necessary care: 75 percent favor this currently, while 21 percent are opposed.

"When asked which is more important - to control annual cost increases or guarantee all Americans access to needed care - a majority (56 percent) says that it is more important to provide access to necessary medical care for all Americans while 36 percent say it is more important to control health care costs,'' Pew reports.