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

Among Democrats

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

Among Republicans

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

Among Independents

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

Among Men

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

Among Women

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

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

• Approve 33% [32%] [30%]
• Disapprove 60% [61%] [64%]

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

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

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

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

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan?

• Approve 50% [51%] {59%} (41%) [42%]
• Disapprove 42% [40%] {30%} (50%) [45%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Libya?

• Approve 38% [41%] {45%} (41%) [41%]
• Disapprove 44% [43%] {40%} (48%) [45%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the issue of same-sex marriage?

• Approve 37%
• Disapprove 42%

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

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

What do you think is more important - reducing the federal budget deficit, or reducing unemployment?

• Reducing unemployment 62% {54%}
• Reducing federal budget deficit 32% {35%}

What do you think is more important - reducing federal government spending, or reducing unemployment?

• Reducing unemployment 49% {47%}
• Reducing federal government spending 43% {46%}

Who do you trust to do a better job handling Medicare, which is the government program which pays for health care for the elderly - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

• Obama 50% [44%]
• Republicans 37% [40%]

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

• Bush 54%
• Obama 27%

As you may know, unless Congress and the president can agree to raise the federal debt limit soon, the government will not be able to borrow more money to fund its operations and pay its debts. If the limit is not raised, who do you think would mainly be responsible for this: the Obama Administration or the Republicans in Congress?

• Republicans in Congress 48%
• Obama administration 34%

All things considered, which of these is your greater concern - A. That raising the debt limit would lead to higher government spending and make the national debt bigger OR B. That not raising the debt limit would force the government into default and hurt the nation's economy?

• Not raising debt limit hurts economy 45%
• Raising debt limit leads to bigger debt 43%

In order to allow the national debt ceiling to be raised, do you think President Obama would cut government spending too much, too little, or by about the right amount?

• Too much 13%
• Too little 42%
• Right amount 34%

In order to allow the national debt ceiling to be raised, do you think Republicans in Congress would cut government spending too much, too little, or by about the right amount?

• Too much 33%
• Too little 29%
• Right amount 26%

In order to allow the national debt ceiling to be raised, do you think President Obama would increase taxes too much, too little, or by about the right amount?

• Too much 39%
• Too little 14%
• Right amount 40%

In order to allow the national debt ceiling to be raised, do you think Republicans in Congress would increase taxes too much, too little, or by about the right amount?

• Too much 33%
• Too little 29%
• Right amount 28%

Do you think any agreement to raise the national debt ceiling should include only spending cuts or should it also include an increase in taxes for the wealthy and corporations?

• Increase in taxes for wealthy/corporations 67%
• Only spending cuts 25%

How would you describe President Obama's proposals to raise revenues - Would you call them tax hikes or closing loopholes?

• Closing loopholes 45%
• Tax hikes 37%

Do you believe President Obama's proposals to raise revenues will impact the middle class or just the wealthy?

• Middle class 57%
• Just the wealthy 30%

Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would allow same-sex couples to get married?

• Support 46%
• Oppose 48%

Among Democrats

• Support 61%
• Oppose 35%

Among Republicans

• Support 24%
• Oppose 72%

Among Independents

• Support 48%
• Oppose 43%

Under current federal law states can refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Do you think this law should remain in existence or not?

• Yes/Remain 44%
• No/End 49%

Under current federal law spouses in same-sex marriages are denied eligibility for federal benefits. Do you think this law should remain in existence or not?

• Yes/Remain 35%
• No/End 59%

Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now?

• Doing the right thing 39% [40%] {46%} (34%) [41%]
• Should not be involved 55% [52%] {47%} (60%) [50%]

Among Democrats

• Doing the right thing 30% [30%] {41%} (27%) [38%]
• Should not be involved 64% [62%] {51%} (65%) [56%]

Among Republicans

• Doing the right thing 54% [53%] {59%} (46%) [50%]
• Should not be involved 39% [38%] {37%} (46%) [35%]

Among Independents

• Doing the right thing 36% [37%] {41%} (31%) [38%]
• Should not be involved 58% [56%] {51%} (66%) [54%]

Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's decision to withdraw 33,000 US troops from Afghanistan by next summer?

• Approve 75%
• Disapprove 19%

Among Democrats

• Approve 91%
• Disapprove 5%

Among Republicans

• Approve 53%
• Disapprove 40%

Among Independents

• Approve 79%
• Disapprove 17%

Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by using military force in Libya now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Libya now?

• Doing the right thing 32% [35%] {39%} (37%) [41%]
• Should not be involved 56% [54%] {48%} (53%) [47%]

Among Democrats

• Doing the right thing 38% [40%] {45%} (44%) [48%]
• Should not be involved 50% [48%] {45%} (45%) [42%]

Among Republicans

• Doing the right thing 31% [35%] {36%} (36%) [40%]
• Should not be involved 58% [56%] {53%} (55%) [45%]

Among Independents

• Doing the right thing 26% [33%] {40%} (31%) [38%]
• Should not be involved 61% [59%] {47%} (60%) [51%]

Do you think President Obama should have requested approval from Congress for the US involvement in Libya or not?

• Yes 62%
• No 31%

Among Democrats

• Yes 47%
• No 44%

Among Republicans

• Yes 78%
• No 18%

Among Independents

• Yes 67%
• No 25%

Survey of 2,311 registered voters was conducted July 5-11, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points.  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.