Poll Watch: CBS News/New York Times Political Survey

CBS News/New York Times Political Survey

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

• Approve 48%
• Disapprove 47%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama has handled the negotiations on the debt ceiling?

• Approve 46%
• Disapprove 47%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

• Approve 14%
• Disapprove 82%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Boehner is handling his job as Speaker of the House of Representatives?

• Approve 30%
• Disapprove 57%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Republicans in Congress have handled the negotiations on the debt ceiling?

• Approve 21%
• Disapprove 72%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Democrats in Congress have handled the negotiations on the debt ceiling?

• Approve 28%
• Disapprove 66%

Given what you have seen so far, do you think most members of Congress deserve reelection next year, or don't you think they deserve re-election?

• Deserve re-election 14%
• Don't deserve 74%

Who do you trust more to make the right decisions about the nation's economy -- the Republicans in Congress or Barack Obama?

• Barack Obama 47%
• Republicans in Congress 33%

Which do you think is better for the country? Should the Democrats and Republicans compromise some of their positions in order to get things done, or stick to their positions even if it means not getting as much done?

• Compromise 85%
• Stick to positions 12%

Who do you think is mostly to blame for most of the current federal budget deficit -- 1. the Bush administration, 2. the Obama administration, 3. Congress, or 4. someone else?

• Bush administration 44%
• Obama administration 15%
• Congress 15%
• Someone else 10%

Which of these should be the higher priority for the nation right now -- cutting government spending or creating jobs?

• Creating jobs 62%
• Cutting spending 29%

The debt ceiling agreement calls for more than $2 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years, a new Congressional committee to recommend a deficit-reduction proposal by late November, and a two-stage increase in the debt ceiling. From what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the debt ceiling agreement?

• Strongly Approve 4%
• Somewhat Approve 42%
• Somewhat Disapprove 26%
• Strongly Disapprove 19%

From what you know so far, do you think the debt ceiling agreement should have included some increase in tax revenue or should it have relied entirely on cuts in government spending?

• Increase in tax revenue 50%
• Cuts in spending 44%

Do you think the spending cuts included in the debt ceiling agreement went too far, didn't go far enough, or are they about right?

• Too far 15%
• Not far enough 44%
• About right 29%

In general, do you think the debt ceiling agreement will make the economy better, make the economy worse or have no impact on the economy?

• Better 22%
• Worse 24%
• No effect 46%

Do you think the recent disagreements in Washington about raising the debt ceiling were mostly about doing what was best for the country or mostly about gaining political advantage?

• Best for country 14%
• Political advantage 82%

As a result of the debt ceiling negotiations in Washington, do you think the image of the United States in the world has gotten better, gotten worse, or have the debt ceiling negotiations had no effect on the image of the United States in the world?

• Better 5%
• Worse 71%

During the recent debt ceiling negotiations in Washington, do you think Barack Obama has shown strong qualities of leadership, or not?

• Strong qualities 49%
• Not strong 48%

Who do you blame more for the difficulties in reaching an agreement on the debt ceiling -- the Republicans in Congress or Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress?

• Republicans in Congress 47%
• Barack Obama and Democrats 29%

In negotiations about the debt ceiling, did the Republicans in Congress compromise with Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress too much, too little, or the right amount?

• Too much 15%
• Too little 52%
• Right amount 26%

In negotiations about the debt ceiling, did Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress compromise with the Republicans in Congress too much, too little, or the right amount?

• Too much 26%
• Too little 34%
• Right amount 32%

Looking ahead, have the negotiations over the debt ceiling made you optimistic about the ability of this Congress to deal with future issues affecting the country, have they made you pessimistic, or has the debate had no effect on your outlook for how this Congress will deal with future issues?

• Optimistic 12%
• Pessimistic 66%
• No effect 19%

In order to lower the nation's budget deficit, do you think taxes should be increased on households earning $250,000 a year or more or should the government address the budget deficit without increasing taxes on those households?

• Increase taxes 63%
• Don't increase taxes 34%

Is your opinion of the Tea Party movement favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about the Tea Party movement yet to have an opinion?

• Favorable 20%
• Not Favorable 40%
• Undecided 18%
• Haven't heard enough 21%

Do you think the Tea Party movement has too much influence, too little influence, or the right amount of influence in the Republican Party?

• Too much 43%
• Too little 17%
• Right amount 24%

Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or not?

• Yes 18%
• No 73%

Survey of 960 adults, 82% of whom are registered to vote in the precinct or election district in which they now live, was conducted August 2-3, 2011. Party ID breakdown: 32% Democrat; 24% Republican; 39% Independent. Political ideology: 43% Moderate; 32% Conservative; 22% Liberal.