america relunctantly think Obama is the better pick over the republicans

July 14, 2011 - President Is Best Of The Worst On Economy, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll; Voters Blame Bush Over Obama 2-1 For Financial Mess

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1624

American voters disapprove 56 - 38 percent of the way President Barack Obama is handling the economy, but by 45 - 38 percent they trust the president more than congressional Republicans to handle the economy, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.


The country is in a recession, 71 percent of American voters say, but by 54 - 27 percent they blame former President George W. Bush more than President Obama.


The president gets a 47 - 46 percent job approval rating, unchanged from the June 9 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. That tops a 64 - 28 percent disapproval for Democrats in Congress and a 65 - 26 percent disapproval for Republicans. Obama outscores congressional Republicans on several points in the deficit reduction battle:
•Voters will blame Republicans over Obama 48 - 34 percent if the debt limit is not raised;
•Voters say 67 - 25 percent that an agreement to raise the debt ceiling should include tax hikes for the wealthy and corporations, not just spending cuts;
•Voters say 45 - 37 percent that Obama's proposals to raise revenues are "closing loopholes," rather than "tax hikes";
•But voters say 57 - 30 percent that Obama's proposals will impact the middle class, not just the wealthy.

"The American people aren't very happy about their leaders, but President Barack Obama is viewed as the best of the worst, especially when it comes to the economy," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling institute.


"Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of President Obama's handling of the economy, but by 2-1 they pin the blame on former President George W. Bush rather than Obama, who is now more than 60 percent through his term of office."


"Given this public view, it might be reasonable to expect that the president's re-election campaign will be, as it was in 2008, running against the former president, in addition to the actual GOP nominee," said Brown. "The key voting bloc, independents, say 49 - 24 percent that Bush is more responsible for the economy than Obama."


By a 62 - 32 percent margin, American voters say it's more important to reduce unemployment than to reduce the federal budget deficit. But they say 49 - 43 percent it's more important to reduce unemployment than to reduce government spending.


While 71 percent of voters say they like the president personally, they dislike most of his policies 48 - 45 percent.


When it comes to Obama's job approval, his base remains intact. Democrats give him a thumbs up 81 - 11 percent, while disapproval is 83 - 13 percent among Republicans and 53 - 40 percent among independent voters. Obama gets a 50 - 41 percent approval rating among women, but men disapprove 51 - 43 percent.


"Obama has established a bond with the American people on a personal level. Even Republicans say 49 - 32 percent they like him personally. But his policies are another story," said Brown. "Look at independents, who like him as a person 70 - 15 percent, but dislike his policies 55 - 35 percent."


Voters say 55 - 39 percent that the U.S. should not be fighting in Afghanistan, although they approve 75 - 19 percent of Obama's decision to begin withdrawing troops. The U.S. should not be involved in Libya, voters say 56 - 32 percent.


American voters are divided on whether they would support a law to legalize same-sex marriage in their state, with 46 percent in support and 48 percent opposed. Voters under 35 years old support same-sex marriage 57 - 36 percent, while voters 35 to 54 years old split 49 - 46 percent and voters over 55 years old are opposed 56 - 38 percent. White Catholics support same- sex marriage 56 - 38 percent while white Protestants are opposed 61 - 34 percent.


"American attitudes toward homosexuality in general and same-sex marriage in particular are changing," said Brown."


From July 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,311 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.


The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.


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July 13, 2011 - Bachmann Surging In 2012 GOP Race As Romney Is Flat, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Obama Tops All Leading Republican Challengers


Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, a relative newcomer in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, is surging and now trails former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 25 - 14 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has 12 percent, followed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 10 percent. No other contender is over 6 percent.


This compares to a June 8 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, showing Romney with 25 percent, Palin with 15 percent and Bachmann with 6 percent, sixth in a field of 10 candidates in the survey.


President Barack Obama tops all leading GOP White House hopefuls, hitting the all- important 50-percent mark against every candidate but Romney:
•47 - 41 percent over Romney, unchanged from June 8;
•50 - 38 percent over Bachmann, who was not matched against Obama June 8;
•53 - 34 percent over Sarah Palin, compared to 53 - 36 percent June 8;
•50 - 37 percent over Perry, who was not matched against Obama June 8.

"Gov. Mitt Romney remains ahead of the GOP presidential pack as U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann has zoomed into second place," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "With almost a dozen candidates and most of them not very well known, even to GOP activists, Gov. Romney's lead remains. Gov. Rick Perry, who is still a maybe candidate, breaks into double-digits and runs fourth, an indication that he could be a serious contender should he run."


"The question about Rep. Bachmann is whether she is the flavor of the month, like Donald Trump was for a while, or does she have staying power? Perhaps more than any of the other GOP contenders, Bachmann's fortunes may depend on whether Governors Palin or Perry get into the race. All three of them are likely to appeal to the GOP's Tea Party constituency."


Rounding out the possible Republican presidential field are entrepreneur Herman Cain at 6 percent, Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul at 5 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 5 percent, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty at 3 percent, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan each at 1 percent or less.


If Perry does not run, Romney would lead with 28 percent, followed by Bachmann with 16 percent and Palin with 13 percent.


If Perry were to run, but not Palin, Romney would lead Bachmann 28 - 17 percent with Perry remaining at 10 percent.


"This would indicate that Romney and Bachmann would benefit most if Perry or Palin do not run," said Brown.


In the November matchups, Obama's margin over the Republican hopefuls stems from his huge margins among women voters that swamp the GOP candidates' small edge with men. For instance, matched against Romney, the president carries women 50 - 39 percent, but loses men by only 45 - 44 percent.


Against Bachmann, Obama leads 52 - 35 percent among women and 48 - 40 percent among men.


The same dynamic is at work when voters are asked if the president deserves a second term. While the overall number is a 47 - 47 percent dead heat, women think he deserves a second term 50 - 43 percent, while men think he does not by 51 - 43 percent.


"The gender gap is shaping up as a major factor in the 2012 presidential campaign, bigger perhaps than the 12-point swing in 2008," Brown said.


Among independent voters, Romney tops Obama 42 - 40 percent. But Obama leads among independents, a key voting group:
•46 - 36 percent over Perry;
•43 - 40 percent over Bachmann;
•50 - 33 percent over Palin.

From July 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,311 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.0 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Republican primary included 913 voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.


The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.


1.(Republicans and Republican Leaners) If the 2012 Republican primary for President were being held today, and the candidates were: Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain, and Thaddeus McCotter for whom would you vote?









http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1623

 

Considering the "odd bunch" of characters that he will potentially face, I think that Obama has reason to be hopeful. It'll be interesting to see how much deeper a hole various candidates will dig for themselves. I think that we'll see some of them just implode.

 

Hope those GOP candidates would implode soon.