Poll: GOP's approval ratings hit five-year high

Obama’s weakened standing comes as he and the rising congressional Republican leaders are poised to become partners—or adversaries—in guiding the nation. They will start in January on more equal footing, the poll shows. Forty-five percent of Americans say they now view the Republican Party favorably, while 47 percent hold an unfavorable view. That’s the best showing the party has had since the inception of the poll in September 2009. Opinion about the Democratic Party has plunged, with a favorable rating of 41 percent and an unfavorable rating of 50 percent. This was Democrats’ worst showing in more than five years…

Americans remain skeptical about the motivations of the ascendant congressional majority. Almost a majority, or 49 percent, say Republicans have been more confrontational while 32 percent say the Democrats have taken that posture. A clear majority also says Republicans are more motivated by their antagonism toward the president than their vision for the country—55 percent to 34 percent. The findings are essentially reversed when they were asked about Obama, with 54 percent saying he’s motivated by his vision and 36 percent saying he’s driven by antagonism toward Republicans. “If what they’re doing is out of antagonism, are they making choices that aren’t really about their values?” Selzer said. Republicans run the risk of “sort of painting themselves into a corner” if they continue on this path once they’re in control of both chambers of Congress or running for president against a candidate who is not Obama…

As for Obama’s decision to take executive action to give some illegal immigrants temporary legal status, 56 percent say they don’t approve, while 39 percent are okay with it and 5 percent aren’t sure. This is partly a partisan issue; 83 percent of Republicans oppose the decisions while two-thirds of Democrats favor them. More ominously, though, a clear majority—57 percent—of independents oppose the actions.