by Mark Silva
There is credit, it appears, for trying.
Nearly six months into office, confronting a daunting array of national problems and taking on challenges of his own initiative, President Barack Obama is holding on to eroding but still substantial public support.
And more than half of those who say they approve of the president's performance in office cite his leadership in attempting to solve the nation's problems as their reason - 54 percent of those voicing job-approval.
Nearly two thirds of those who voice disapproval of the president's performance cite specific policies in which they disagree with Obama.
The president's overall job approval stood at 58 percent in the Gallup Poll over the weekend - a full 10-11 points lower than the approval level that he started with in January. And 36 percent said they disapprove of his performance in the Gallup polling conducted July 10-12.
Among those voicing approval of his leadership, 31 percent credit the president for dealing with tough issues, 15 percent credit the president for trying new things and 8 percent credit him for taking on new issues.
On the other side of the coin, more than half of those voicing disapproval for his job performance site issues such as government spending, government borrowing and government waste and some say his economic stimulus plan is not working.
"There are two significant knocks on Obama on a personal level,'' Gallup reports. "One, expressed by 14 percent of those disapproving of his job performance, is that he is inexperienced or "doesn't know what he is doing." Additionally, 10 percent say something along the lines that he is "all talk and no action," or "doesn't keep his promises." Only 2 pcernt of his detractors say he is doing too much.''
The bottom line:
"raise for the job Obama is doing centers on his attentiveness to the country's problems, and includes a dose of admiration for his personal characteristics and style,'' Gallup reports. "Although positive, these assessments are relatively soft in contrast with the mainly policy-related criticisms of Obama from his detractors, largely centered on government spending and power.'
"Only six months into the job, it is natural that the president has little in the way of specific accomplishments driving his approval rating. Thus, at this early juncture, his supporters appear satisfied that Obama is on task.
"At the same time, the dramatic early steps Obama has taken to address the fragile economy -- perhaps combined with the fact that these have yet to spark an economic recovery -- have given his detractors a clear rallying point against him. The imbalance may be tenable for now, but a year from now, Obama may need more tangible economic or legislative achievements to sustain his majority approval ratings.''
The survey of 1,018 adults carries a possible margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Comments
Read both the headline and the first paragraph to see how Obama media loyalists bury the lede. You have to burrow into the article to finally find out his ratings are declining--numbers that, if they were better, would be headlined.
Posted by: Bruce | July 15, 2009 9:53 AM
There is no doubt, America respects someone who tries his best, to do a good job. That is why President Obama and Vice-President Biden poll so well. President Obama and Vice-President Biden love this country, like most other Americans, and they want to see America, and all of her citizens, to do well and be well. Most of all, America loves politicians, who keep their word and that is another reason, their numbers are steady and relatively high. Take for instance, their dedication to dealing with our present healthscare system. They are determined to give every American a choice, when it comes to choosing their healthcare plan; either a commercial " product " or a public offering. Competition is at the very core of President Obama's healthcare plan and that is as American as apple pie. So, please, let's not present the " boogieman " of government run programs, after all, our government is doing a fairly decent job, in running our country, in spite of its many flaws. I know not many of us, if any, would choose to live in any other country !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | July 15, 2009 10:47 AM
Two thirds of Obama's critics are closet fascists. They support the Republican Party who with their benefactor the health insurers have perpetrated a racket on the American people costing them nearly twenty cents of every dollar spent on health insurance.
Obama wants to stop the racket so why would they not be displeased.
Posted by: Basso | July 15, 2009 11:47 AM
Mark, how come you don't write about the many polls that show his approval numbers in the low to mid 50s and his disapproval numbers in the 40s? Nor the Rasmussen poll in which his negative now outweighs his positive (those who strongly disapprove compared to those who strongly approve)? Or how the countless polls that show many of his policies to be highly unpopular with the populace?
Real nice spin job with this piece. Course, I wouldn't expect anything else from a proud member of the state-run media and Barack Obama/David Axelrod Public Relations team.
Posted by: John D | July 15, 2009 12:22 PM
Replicans are going nowhere.
They have no credible spokesreplican who has any counter to Obama's programs, other than STATUS QUO.
Status quo lost the last election, and won't win any future elections.
I guess I should mention Lamar with his suggestion of building 100 nuke power plants.
Yes, that's different. Given how expensive they are to maintain, however, I don't think his figures add up.
So, Lamar, you go girl! Get those nuke power plants on line ASAP. Which would be in about 15 years or so.........
Posted by: ornery | July 15, 2009 2:02 PM
You have to burrow into the article to finally find out his ratings are declining--numbers that, if they were better, would be headlined.
Posted by: Bruce | July 15, 2009 9:53 AM
-----------------------------------
.
Quit your crying, RNC Brucie.
All Presidents see their numbers go down the longer they're in office. At this point in his presidency Obama's numbers are great, and they're higher than any president in recent memory, including Repug hero Saint Ronnie Raygun.
Posted by: civil war guy | July 15, 2009 3:46 PM
Like the proverbial toddlers deprived of a cookie, the Repuglicans are stomping their feet and whining - why isn't the mess that they made better RIGHT NOW?!?! Just six months into an Obama presidency that inherited the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression and damn it, that watered down stimulus bill--that HAD to include tax cuts demanded by the Repuglicans that does little to nothing to stimulate--isn't giving us immediate gratification and relief? Amazing!
Never mind that Obama had to deal with nutty Repuglican governors (Sanford, Palin etc) refusing stimulus money to score cheap political points with the the nutty Wingnut 21% base and that some states are using the stimulus money to shore up budget shortfalls. Never mind that economists said it would take 12-18 months to see results, the petulant childeren who make up what's left of the Repuglican party want results NOW!!!!
.
http://lynnrockets.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/republican-crybaby2.jpg
Posted by: former Republican | July 15, 2009 3:49 PM
"John D", since David Axelrod and Mark Silva won't give readers the latest, full polling data, people like us have to:
DiaGeo/HOTLINE--Obama down 9% from June
Gallup--Obama down 5% from June
CBS--Obama down 6% from June
Rasmussen--Obama down 6% from June
Everyone, except maybe Tribune columnists, can see a headline-making trend here.
Posted by: Bruce | July 15, 2009 4:02 PM
Interesting Obama controls the big media and still can't stop the downward spiral of his creditability.
Posted by: Inky | July 15, 2009 4:36 PM
Mark, how come you don't write about the many polls that show his approval numbers in the low to mid 50s and his disapproval numbers in the 40s? Nor the Rasmussen poll in which his negative now outweighs his positive (those who strongly disapprove compared to those who strongly approve)? Or how the countless polls that show many of his policies to be highly unpopular with the populace?
Real nice spin job with this piece. Course, I wouldn't expect anything else from a proud member of the state-run media and Barack Obama/David Axelrod Public Relations team.
Posted by: John D | July 15, 2009 12:22 PM
Simple, that would embarrasse The Chicago Tribe a big backer of Obama..
Posted by: Inky | July 15, 2009 4:53 PM
It cracks me up how the Wingnut cretins on here (Brucie, Johnny D, Inkyclown etc) wet their pants with joy everytime they see a poll that shows what always happens with presidents approval numbers the longer they're in office - they drop.
I'd suggest that Repuglicans quit worrying about Pres Obama's still stellar approval numbers and start worrying more about the pathetic approval numbers that their beloved Repuglican party has now, but that would be assuming that the mouthbreathers on the right could actually form an independent thought that isn't fed to them by Druggy Rush and Faux News - they can't.
.
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/the-incredible-shrinking-gop-only-one-in-five-self-identify-as-republican/
Posted by: Planet Wingnuttia | July 15, 2009 6:23 PM
While driving back from our yearly visit to Graceland (ELVIS) ~ I counted about 150 IMPEACH OBAMA bumper stickers.
There are clear thinking Americans out there...life is good.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | July 16, 2009 12:35 AM
Yah, you know we're headed in the right direction when swagger becomes synonymous with leadership. Hmm, willing to deal with tough issues(what else is he going to do play golf and read urudu poetry?), willing to try new things, willing to try new issues-- isn't it all the same thing? (By these standards Bush was a maverick. Palin will be a deity in her own right. Shoot, shoot she's even willing to make the media a new issue in the context of political discourse.) Aren't we creating a whole bunch of something out of nothing? Leadership is performance. At the end of the day, if you can't fix the issues, make headway, who cares if you "tried". No on elects a President to try, but to do, change.
Posted by: there goes Africa... | July 16, 2009 12:50 AM
civil war guy = John E
former Republican= John E
Planet Wingnuttia = John E
-
John E, grow a pair and use one post name. Grow a brain and stop repeating the same empty slogans.
Posted by: John e is The Queen of Copy and Paste | July 16, 2009 6:02 AM
Inky,
The Tribune also endorsed boy George Bush, twice. You must have forgotten. Politics is about spin, you should know that after 8 years of derelict Bush. Were you out to lunch??
Obama's approval rating is near 60%. The GOP has no credibility, no ideas, no plans, no visions, no spokesperson, no direction. Maybe you are your miserable ilk should move to a socialist country somewhere overseas.
Posted by: Doug R. | July 16, 2009 8:25 AM
Why not quit worry about political party affiliations and start looking out for the country? I really do not see how we can pay for any of these things. It would appear that if we take all the proposed payment options (increase taxes on some group) and add them up we will find that if all programs are implemented that the tax rate will be much higher than 50%. I truly pity the children who will end up paying for all this.
Posted by: jorge paisano | July 16, 2009 8:42 AM
Inky,
The Tribune also endorsed boy George Bush, twice. You must have forgotten. Politics is about spin, you should know that after 8 years of derelict Bush. Were you out to lunch??
Obama's approval rating is near 60%. The GOP has no credibility, no ideas, no plans, no visions, no spokesperson, no direction. Maybe you are your miserable ilk should move to a socialist country somewhere overseas.
Posted by: Doug R. | July 16, 2009 8:25 AM
Sounds like you are in favor ,of Obamaism(socialism).
THe tribune is definite a HAS BEEN.
Posted by: Inky | July 17, 2009 9:03 AM