Poll Watch: CNN/ORC Political Survey

CNN/ORC Political Survey

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

• Approve 44%
• Disapprove 54%

(IF DISAPPROVE) Do you disapprove because you think his policies and actions since he became president have been too liberal, or because you think his policies and actions have not been liberal enough?

• Approve 44%
• Disapprove/Too liberal 36%
• Disapprove/Not liberal enough 16%
• Disapprove 2%

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

Terrorism

• Approve 62%
• Disapprove 35%

Foreign Affairs

• Approve 47%
• Disapprove 50%

Unemployment

• Approve 37%
• Disapprove 60%

The economy

• Approve 34%
• Disapprove 64%

The federal budget deficit

• Approve 34%
• Disapprove 64%

Which of the following is the most important issue facing the country today?

• The economy 60%
• The federal budget deficit 16%
• Health care 9%
• The situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya 5%
• Illegal immigration 4%
• Terrorism 3%
• Policies toward gays and lesbians 1%

And, thinking specifically about the economy, which of the following is the most important economic issue facing the country today?

• Unemployment 49%
• The federal budget deficit 27%
• The price of gasoline 12%
• Taxes 5%
• Mortgages and housing costs 3%
• The stock market 2%

As you may know, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law a bill that raises the federal government's debt ceiling through the year 2013 and makes major cuts in government spending over the next few years. Based on what you have read or heard, do you approve or disapprove of that bill?

• Approve 48%
• Disapprove 50%

Do you think the cuts in government spending included in that bill go too far, do not go far enough,or are about right?

• Too far 21%
• Not far enough 48%
• About right 27%

Do you think that bill treats all Americans fairly, or do you think it benefits the rich at the expense of the poor and middle class?

• Treats all fairly 27%
• Benefits the rich 62%

Survey of 1,008 adults, including 930 registered voters, was conducted August 5-7, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.