Poll Watch: Quinnipiac Political Survey

Quinnipiac Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

• Approve 41% {42%} (47%) [47%] {52%} (46%) [42%]
• Disapprove 55% {52%} (46%) [46%] {40%} (48%) [48%]

Among Democrats

• Approve 77% {77%} (81%) [83%] {88%} (85%) [80%]
• Disapprove 18% {18%} (11%) [11%] {9%} (9%) [13%]

Among Republicans

• Approve 7% {7%} (13%) [13%] {18%} (11%) [9%]
• Disapprove 91% {90%} (83%) [82%] {74%} (86%) [81%]

Among Independents

• Approve 38% {40%} (40%) [46%] {47%} (41%) [39%]
• Disapprove 56% {54%} (53%) [43%] {41%} (52%) [50%]

Among Men

• Approve 36% {39%} (43%) [44%] {51%} (39%) [41%]
• Disapprove 60% {56%} (51%) [49%] {42%} (54%) [52%]

Among Women

• Approve 46% {44%} (50%) [50%] {53%} (52%) [44%]
• Disapprove 51% {49%} (41%) [44%] {39%} (43%) [44%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

• Approve 32% {32%} (38%) [36%] {38%} (37%) [34%]
• Disapprove 64% {62%} (56%) [58%] {57%} (57%) [60%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?

• Approve 44% {44%} (47%) [46%] {51%} (43%) [41%]
• Disapprove 48% {47%} (43%) [44%] {39%} (48%) [47%]

Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

• Republicans 43% {41%} (38%) [43%] {37%} (44%)
• Obama 41% {44%} (45%) [41%] {46%} (43%)

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on the economy - Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? 

• Mitt Romney 49% {46%} 
• Barack Obama 39% {42%} 

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on the economy - Barack Obama or Rick Perry? 

• Rick Perry 45% {41%}  
• Barack Obama 42% {43%} 

Who do you blame more for the current condition of the U.S. economy - Former President George W. Bush or President Barack Obama?

• Bush 51% {53%} (54%)
• Obama 32% {32%} (27%)

If Barack Obama is reelected President, do you think the economy will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? 

• Get better 29%
• Get worse 36%
• Stay the same 31%

If Mitt Romney is elected President, do you think the economy will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? 

• Get better 36%
• Get worse 16%
• Stay the same 37%

If Rick Perry is elected President, do you think the economy will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? 

• Get better 30%
• Get worse 24%
• Stay the same 32%

If Barack Obama is reelected President, do you think taxes on the middle class will go up, go down, or stay about the same? 

• Go up 43%
• Go down 10%
• Stay the same 42%

If Mitt Romney is elected President, do you think taxes on the middle class will go up, go down, or stay about the same? 

• Go up 30%
• Go down 9%
• Stay the same 49%

If Rick Perry is elected President, do you think taxes on the middle class will go up, go down, or stay about the same? 

• Go up 33%
• Go down 9%
• Stay the same 44%

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on foreign policy, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? 

• Barack Obama 43%
• Mitt Romney 43%

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on foreign policy, Barack Obama or Rick Perry? 

• Barack Obama 46%
• Rick Perry 38%

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on Social Security, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? 

• Mitt Romney 46% 
• Barack Obama 42% 

Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on Social Security, Barack Obama or Rick Perry? 

• Barack Obama 44% 
• Rick Perry 42% 

Is your opinion of Social Security favorable or unfavorable? 

• Favorable 50%
• Unfavorable 32%

Do you think the Social Security program should continue to be run by the federal government or the Social Security program should be turned over to the states? 

• Federal government 63% 
• States 26% 

Under the current system employers and employees pay Social Security taxes on workers' incomes up to the first $106,800 they earn. Do you support or oppose raising this $106,800 income cap to help bring more money into the Social Security system? 

• Support 56% 
• Oppose 35% 

Social Security benefits for today's retirees come from taxes paid by today's workers. When today's workers retire, their benefits will be paid by people working at the time. Some have said this system is a "Ponzi scheme." Do you think that it is fair or unfair to describe the Social Security system as a Ponzi scheme? 

• Fair 32% 
• Unfair 60% 

Based on what you've heard or read, do you think Rick Perry wants to fix Social Security or end Social Security? 

• Fix 30% 
• End 35%  

Survey of 2,118 registered voters was conducted September 27 - October 3, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 2.1 percentage points.  Party ID breakdown; 31% Democrat; 28% Republican; 33% Independent; 6% Other.  Results from the poll conducted August 16-27, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 5-11, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted May 31 - June 6, 2011 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted May 2-3, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted April 26 - May 1, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted March 22-28, 2011 are in square brackets.