Quinnipiac poll: Obama now under 50% approval; Update: Q-poll data added
posted at 9:30 am on November 18, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Rasmussen has had Barack Obama under water for weeks on job-approval ratings, but usually they’re a leading indicator. Quinnipiac now shows the same trend, with Obama dropping below 50% approval for the first time in their poll series. Bloomberg reports that voters have lost confidence in Obama on a wide range of issues as well:
President Barack Obama’s approval rating has fallen below 50 percent for the first time in polling by Quinnipiac University as U.S. voter discontent grows over the war in Afghanistan.
Obama’s job approval rating fell to 48 percent in the Nov. 9-16 survey of registered voters nationwide by the Hamden, Connecticut-based university, with 42 percent polled saying they disapproved of the job he is doing.
“In politics, symbols matter, and this is not a good symbol for the White House,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement.
Obama’s approval rating was 59 percent in a Quinnipiac survey conducted Feb. 25 to March 2.
Rasmussen surveys likely voters, while Gallup and others usually use the broadest measure, adults. Quinnipiac’s survey of registered voters makes this more predictive than most, and explains why they see the same trend over a longer period as Rasmussen.
Obama also lost ground on issues, especially the economy. In October, Obama only garnered a 47% approval on the economy; now it’s 43%. Disapproval on Afghanistan rose to 49%, up seven points in a month. Both are issues on which Obama has tried to be seen as taking charge, and Americans increasingly wonder if he’s up to the task.
Quinnipiac has not released the polling data yet. When they do, I’ll have more analysis. For now, though, Obama has certainly started heading into some troubling territory, and if his numbers remain mired at this level, Democrats in Congress will have to worry whether Obama will hurt more than he will help in what will be a tough mid-term election.
Update: Quinnipiac has released the poll data, and it’s very, very interesting:
- Economy: 43/52, 47/46 in October – independents 38/58
- Foreign policy: 49/42, 49/37 in October – independents 45/49
- Afghanistan: 38/49, 42/40 in October – inds 30/57
Those independent numbers are looking worse and worse for Democrats.
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flyfisher on November 18, 2009 at 10:15 AM
I’ve noticed that, too. A lot of Americans that voted for Obama are realizing that he’s not what he claimed he was in the campaign and all of his promises come with expiration dates.
kingsjester on November 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM
You people need to get your priorities straight. Obama’s professional bowing classes now have folks on a two-month waiting list with General McChrystal getting moved to the front of the line.
He’s still the greatest community organizer according to every ACORN POLL.
And the most important indicator is Chris Matthew’s leg is still tingling!
Rovin on November 18, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Look, the poll is bogus. Like all of them, it’s slanated IN FAVOR of the criminal in the White House.
But even if it wasn’t slanted, take at least 10% of Obama’s numbers.
That’s a conservative estimate of the poeple who are afraid to say what they really think about the jackass because they are afraid of being called racist.
notagool on November 18, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Oh, please, plenty of voters penetrated his vagueness. And we’re the ones now sadly laughing at the folks who didn’t.
Del Dolemonte on November 18, 2009 at 10:24 AM
How on God’s earth does hr get 47% approval on the economy???
RustBelt on November 18, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Then you’re reading the wrong books. Pick up My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir by Justice Thomas or try Shelby Steele or Sowell. These conservatives state clearly for those willing to listen, that the large portion of entitlement programs (while trying to be “good”) have unintended negative consequences on society; mainly, that they train a portion of the populace (namely minorities) to feel that society owes them something (Sowell). Thomas would then add that to be black in America is to be told by white liberals how you must vote lest you be considered uppity or an Uncle Tom.
Has the conservative movement failed blacks? Yes, only in that it hasn’t sufficiently showed them how liberalism is essentially economic slavery. (And I’d add, that is slavery for all, not just African-Americans.)
LastRick on November 18, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Obama reminds me of my ex-brother-in-law. The man was a manipulator/con man, much like our dear leader, but younger and therefore rougher around the edges. Having dealt with such individuals before, I saw through him from the beginning but he took my sister for a 7 year ride where she worked to support him while he sat around in his underwear “looking for jobs” in the newspaper, and somehow never seemed to actually get around to finding one. Sort of like Afghanistan.
It took 7 years, but eventually she figured him out and ended his free ride. Let’s hope America can get rid of our freeloader in four. No matter how charming the con man, eventually the taken-advantage-of catch on. I hope America learns quickly. We can’t afford this guy’s free-spending ways and disastrous policies much longer. It’s going to take decades to undo his damage. We can’t afford to waste the time.
hachiban on November 18, 2009 at 10:27 AM
A federal prison if there is any justice in the world.
highhopes on November 18, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I suppose Obama’s trying to boost his numbers by announcing in China today that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would be convicted … which of course defense attorneys will now use to say the President of the United States has tainted the jury pool. Next up, Obama angers Muslims who adhere to their religion’s alcohol ban by proposing a beer summit between him, KSM and Eric Holder.
jon1979 on November 18, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Tack on Dr. Walter E. Williams and his 1980’s PBS documentary Good Intentions. No reading required. ust 30 minutes of uour time.
Democrats control cities (e.g., Chicago). Whay have things gotten worse, not better?
My answer, white rich liberals want ot keep African-Americans segregated from them via a system of property taxes fundinf schools that presents a constitutional barrier to poor people living in their communities.
WashJeff on November 18, 2009 at 10:39 AM
How can someone like anyone with whom they disagree with everything on?…Just proves the point that most people are naive or clueless.
Nalea on November 18, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Big difference. In 1984 the economy shot back once Reagan’s policies kicked in. Tax rate went from 70% to 28% and ignited a 25 year economic boom.
Do you honestly think Obama’s policies will do anything for the economy in 2012? Higher taxes, cap n tax, card check, more stimulus spending in non-existent congressional districts. Yeah, that’s the ticket to economic prosperity.
Everything Reagan did was for the betterment of the country. Everything Obama does is for the betterment of unions and ACORN. And people are not falling for it anymore.
angryed on November 18, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I disagree with 99% of what my in-laws believe in politically. I still like them on a personal level. We just agreed a long time ago to never discuss politics and life is good.
angryed on November 18, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Yeah, but they’ll just peel away to the next sugardaddy in line promising them more free stuff, courtesy of whitey’s tax dollars. Not exactly an improvement.
Dark-Star on November 18, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Well you must really be enjoying all the successes of a liberal movement headed by an African American.
$2 trillion in new debt over the next year- up 33%. And that was just the news of the past 24 hours.
Chuck Schick on November 18, 2009 at 11:19 AM
He wants to re-make this country. I hope he fails.
petefrt on November 18, 2009 at 11:25 AM
But….but…but…he makes that little teeth whistle sound
when he says things like Paki”s”tan or ba”s”ketball.
elderberry on November 18, 2009 at 11:28 AM
I think our dear readers line of throwing another trillion in the government rationed Obamacare toilet did it.
tarpon on November 18, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I guess he didn’t convert the Politburo of the Chinese Communist party, aka his bankers, with his argument that deficits are good for the US economy and presumably good for the Chinese. He’s now saying we risk a double dip recession because of his towering deficits. I guess he won’t listen to Americans telling him that, but when his bankers give him the lecture, its the Change we teabaggers have been waiting for.
richardb on November 18, 2009 at 11:31 AM
I side with the American people.
I don’t give a damn what Obama wants
I don’t give a damn what the MSM and their crooked polls say
I don’t give a damn what the world thinks of him ( which incidently is not very much and a weak leader and a liar)
the man is a fraud and a liar and the media has aided and abetted him all the way
bluegrass on November 18, 2009 at 11:34 AM
The mystery is why the approval rating is still as high as it is. Who are these dimwits?
I love the headline on Fox today: “Obama warns that debt will lead to greater recession” or something. He is warning us? What’s wrong with that picture?
evergreen on November 18, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Come to the Bay Area. The true believers are standing strong.
evergreen on November 18, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Put him, Chris Matthews, Olbie and the other media folls in a padded cell and let them committ their perverted indecentalities on one another, I am sick of this administration and their destroying this country. Go to China and live and let these lefty freaks in this country go over there and bow to him. It is reaching a boiling point in this country.
bluegrass on November 18, 2009 at 11:41 AM
May I humbly add Dr. Walter E. Williams to your FANTASTIC post?
Branch Rickey on November 18, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Still too high. Ought to be in the lower 20s.
nyx on November 18, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Someone may have already mentioned this, but he’s equalling his lowest-ever numbers on Rasmussen too, -14.
Nothing dramatic has happened in the last few days to account for these numbers, which suggests a deep and sustained fall in support rather than a knee-jerk reaction.
Woo-hoo!
On the plus side for the Obamas, Rasmussen has Michelle’s numbers up! Not sure about the dog.
EnglishMike on November 18, 2009 at 11:55 AM
I feel your pain. Every day in DC I keep hoping to see fewer bumper stickers, but it will never happen.
Firefly_76 on November 18, 2009 at 12:07 PM
His Asia trip has reinforced the argument that Obama is uneducated on world history, uneducated on economics and uninterested in the dignity of the office of President of the United States. His polls will be lower next week.
Looking ahead, what will instigate a rise?
Passage of the health care boondoggle? Likely to embitter even more American voters.
Cap & Trade is officially dead.
Job growth? Not likely till 2011 or something.
Success in Afghanistan? Likely not on his watch.
The man is facing a long stretch where his ineffective leadership will be on full display.
Remember too that Hope & Change got 52% of the vote during a frightening time in November 2008. With his record, 2010 could see historically signficant losses for the Democratic Party at all levels of government.
richardb on November 18, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Our failure with regards to African-Americans come from not saving them from Liberals.
Holger on November 18, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I’m guessing that you actually believe welfare and other govt programs have managed to benefit anyone.
MarkTheGreat on November 18, 2009 at 12:15 PM
The only people who benefit from Welfare are Liberal politicians.
Holger on November 18, 2009 at 12:19 PM
They benefit a few people, don’t benefit many more (some of whom really do need help), and actively hurt most of society.
Dark-Star on November 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Republicans may well have failed African Americans. And many whites of all political persuasions are racist in the sense that they’re not comfortable around people who are different, but that’s a human failing and not a statement of politics.
There is, however, nothing more cruel, calculated, racist and destructive of black families and black communities than the way that the Democrats and the left have exploited and victimised blacks at every opportunity for political gain. You can actually count the victims in the numbers of black abortions, and the shooting deaths in Democrat-controlled inner-city ghettos. It must be in the millions.
Go read up on that, Bleeds Blue.
EnglishMike on November 18, 2009 at 12:27 PM
There are too many Americans who voted for Obama because they thought he was a clean, articulate, black man who would make them feel good if he won. I wonder how they’re feeling now?
kens on November 18, 2009 at 12:47 PM
***
HI BLEEDSBLUE–Read SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas’s great book MY GRANDFATHER’S SON. Or listen to Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King’s I HAVE A DREAM speech.
***
Successful Black People (and the rest of us also) overcame obstacles and prospered due to THEIR OWN COURAGE, SMARTS, AND HARD WORK. And due to their FAITH IN GOD in many cases.
***
Politicians and government programs didn’t have a lot to due with their successes.
***
John Bibb
***
rocketman on November 18, 2009 at 12:52 PM
When the black male figure was replaced with welfare, the black culture was forever and irreparably ruined. I am surprised that Obama and his wife have not addressed this more. This is a major hurdle for most young blacks nowadays–they are being raised in a single household…and they think America owes them something…
Michelle has been to busy designing dresses made from her drapes, to care about the black community. And her husband has been too busy golfing and jetting around the world.
The democrats ruined the balck family, and have put the black community in perpetual servanthood.
Get your facts straight BB–wait–that’s an oxymoron, moron.
lovingmyUSA on November 18, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I want to caution everyone that is so gleeful about the polling numbers–we still have 3 years to go…and Obama is an accomplished liar-in-chief…
lovingmyUSA on November 18, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Or put another way, 38% of independents and 43% of the population in general have no clue what is happening in the economy.
angryed on November 18, 2009 at 1:15 PM
My brother-in-law grew up in a black inner city neighborhood. Single mom with 4 kids, each by a different dad, none of whom she married.
When I and my wife told him tales of our respective childhoods, he kept telling us to stop telling him stories. Stuff like that only happens in Hollywood.
He has since moved to the town where my wife grew up and has been around her extended family for a couple of years now. Last year he called my wife to tell her that he was sorry for doubting her. You wouldn’t believe how much he has changed.
MarkTheGreat on November 18, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Before you start celebrating, do recall that Jimmy Carter reached 73% Disapproval, had to fight off a challenge from Ted Kennedy, presided over a combined foreign-domestic near-catastrophe, was JIMMY CARTER – and still put up a decent fight for re-election – against Ronald Reagan.
CK MacLeod on November 18, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Give it 10 months or so…
RedbonePro on November 18, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Sarah is gonna beat Obama by doing what she did in Alaska:
courting Indies
And the issues will be the federal spending, budget deficits, poor economy and rampant unemployment. I would also predict Afghanistan stagnating and Obama’s being perceived as being WEAK just like….Carter.
I see no reason why Sarah will not be the Reaganesque candidate against the incumbent weak Carter.
The MSM will not be able to protect Obama from his poor record.
Sapwolf on November 18, 2009 at 1:39 PM
The amazing thing is, the voters are losing confidence in Obama despite the mainstream press constantly cheerleading for him. This is another indicator that alternative sources of information such as the web and talk radio (or Fox TV shows) are more influential than NBC or the New York Times.
NNtrancer on November 18, 2009 at 1:58 PM
But your father in law isn’t trying to dictate your health care options to you, or calling you un-American, racist or apologizing for how you treat women, is he?
leftnomore on November 18, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Who are all these people who disapprove the handling of Afghanistan but approve foreign policy overall?
theperfecteconomist on November 18, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Gallup tracking has him at 50% and Rasmussen has him at 47%….I think people are getting sick and tired of these people already. Over exposure.
Terrye on November 18, 2009 at 3:46 PM
The poll can only have one conclusion. People are f**king STUPID! How can he have above 10% approval for ANYTHING.
I need a drink.
faol on November 18, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Speak for yourself. I haven’t’ laughed over politics in a long long time. It’s all I can do not to cry over it most of the time.
And there is another stupid 3 years of this.
And they are about to ruin healthcare and we will be sent back to the middle ages economically, medically, socially, every single policy is taking us backwards in time to serfdom and slavery.
I wonder if that is his way of getting reparations.
petunia on November 18, 2009 at 8:10 PM
It isn’t that Fox or Radio has more influence. It is that people are comparing what is being said with what their personal experience is.
In other words. Truth. Obama lies about every single thing! It is amazing that he can lie so much! I mean that jobs report thing is positively ridiculous! Why would they even put that out? They truly must think we are all idiots!!!!
petunia on November 18, 2009 at 8:14 PM
I found this deeply soul-satisfying. Thank you for expressing what I am not able to express, but know all the same.
techno_barbarian on November 18, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I think he, and the people he surrounds himself with are complete self-absorbed blithering idiots.
The backlash will be teh awesome to witness. Glad I’m alive at this point in history. Arrogance and ignorance are about to get a major come-uppance.
techno_barbarian on November 18, 2009 at 10:18 PM
We’re testing the limits of what the American People will put up with. And we will, very shortly, have a definitive answer.
techno_barbarian on November 18, 2009 at 10:33 PM
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