Exit Poll: Voters Unhappy with Obama, Congress

CBS News' preliminary national exit polling on Election Day shows that voters are disillusioned with President Obama and even more so with Congress. (There will be final exit poll results later in the evening.)

Just 45 percent approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing as president in these preliminary exit polls, while 54 percent disapprove. Congress receives an approval rating of just 25 percent, while 73 percent say they disapprove of the job Congress is doing.

More than 62 percent of voters cite the economy as the most important issue right now -- significantly overshadowing any other issue. As many as 88 percent say the economy is in bad shape, while more than 86 percent are worried about the direction the economy will take in the next year. Four in 10 voters say they are worse off financially than they were two years ago.

Just 35 percent say the country is headed in the right direction, and 62 percent said it is on the wrong track.

With that grim outlook, voters appear ready to change the balance of power in Washington. Republicans are poised to win back dozens of congressional seats and possibly regain control of the House. The new dynamic will present a challenge for Mr. Obama as he attempts to continue with his agenda through the second half of his term, and it will give voters renewed expectations for progress in Washington.

Republicans need to gain 39 seats in the House to win control and 10 in the Senate.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010

President Obama and the Democrats have managed to pass several pieces of legislation in the past two years -- including major packages like health care reform -- but nevertheless face poor approval ratings from voters. In today's preliminary exit polling, nearly half of voters -- 48 percent -- said health care reform should be repealed. Another 31 percent said it should be expanded, while 16 percent said it should be left as is.

Voters in the exit poll were split over the effect of the stimulus: Thirty-one percent said it made no difference on the economy, while 34 percent said it hurt, and 33 percent said it helped.

In a CBS News poll from last month, just 38 percent of voters surveyed said they approved of how Mr. Obama has handled the economy. Meanwhile, as many as 80 percent of likely voters said that most members of Congress should be replaced with someone new.

Anxious for results out of Washington, about three in four voters said in a recent CBS News poll they want Republicans and Mr. Obama to compromise with each other.

The results of tonight's election, however, may result in a more ideologically divided Congress.

29 Photos

America Votes 2010

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Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[jeannettelj]

We'll see how happy they are when they figure out that it is back to the same old cr** we had with Bush. Great. More tax cuts for the rich, repeal of health care so the average family can go bankrupt and lose their home because of medical bills that insurance won't cover, more incentives for big business. I really though the American people were smarter than that. I guess I was sadly mistaken.

[johnm2211]

To be honest, I would have to say that I am not unhappy with President Obama. While I don't agree with everything he has focused on over the last two years, like health care instead of the US Economy, I think he is doing alright. He did inherit a lot of the failed economic policies of the Bush era, but there is only so much that he can do. I feel that passing a health care bill was a good thing, but it needs reformed if it's going to be any good to the American people. He has also improved some civil rights issues. Right now, it is unconstitutional how some people in this country are treated. Everyone is supposed to be treated equally, but they aren't yet. My hope is that Obama will continue to improve on these civil rights issues.

However, I am very unhappy with the current Congress. There are many US Senators and members of the US House, who have served more than 20 years in Congress. It's time for many of those lawmakers to be voted out. We need to get some new blood in our legislature. There should be term limits on how long these people can serve in their current seats. The bipartisan bickering also needs to come to an end in both the House and the Senate. They need to learn to come together and separate their differences and try to do what's best for the American people. After all, Obama said during his 2008 campaign that this is not a Conservative America or a Liberal America, it is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. While I am not completely happy with the outcome of this election, all I hope is that things will get better. I hope that the new likely GOP majority Congress will be able to work with President Obama and try to make this country a better place to live.

[incog-nito]

Health care absolutely needs to be reformed, because it's directly tied to the economy. Health insurance should never have been tied to unemployment in the first place, because it creates a burden to both employers and employees. It's a huge burden to employers, especially small businesses trying to grow. Business owners just want to run their business. They never signed up to provide health benefit to employees. The flip side is, employees' health care are dependent on whatever their employer chooses for them. They risk losing health care if they're laid off. Many are afraid to change job or career because they fear losing health insurance. This is ludicrous in a land where entrepreneurship is prized. In short, moving away from employer-based health care is one of the best ways to help the economy.

[jeannettelj]

I am in total agreement with you. We could start with John McCain of AZ. At 74 he is way past his sell by date and needs to be replaced with some younger blood. Any one who says that he will absolutely not work with the present administration should not be allowed to serve. All of you who voted for the repubs think that they are going to fix the economy, jobs, etc in a matter of days. Me thinks not.

[scubbasteve01]

GOP takes control of the House
The Republicans have wrestled control from the Democrats.
Senate 48 GOP 44
DEM 100 GOP 148
It looks like Christine O ' Donnell will have to hop on her broom and fly to Washington and endorse expeirmenting on humans to make them mice.
What did Obama say " Change isn't easy?'' Broken promises that's where you went wrong, Obama.
Your right Mr. President it isn't easy with a crazy Healthcare Reform and a failed Stimulus Plan that showed bids from both Democrats and Republicans were rejected when they applied for Stimulus that would've have helped their states and neighboring communities. Lots of governemnt over spending. FOR WHAT?
Bipartism Politics? It was promised and never delivered and the people who voted for you in the end turned out to be the real losers.
1099 Reporting requirement. What a joke!
The Tea Party proved one thing this is not supposed to be about race. This is supposed to be about helping people of all races showing the entire world images of Obama as Hitler was the wrong message to send especially since EVERYBODY already knows Hitler and the Nazi Regime hated blacks after Jesse Owens Run in The Olympics against the so called Master Race. Now tell this to the token black people that now help your party who probably think that Aliens were in charge of the Civil War and were directly responsible depending on their own level of ignorance and by the way you do know that 2+2 equals 4 don't you?
IT'S TIME TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK 2012 Primaries. Take it back from what?
Check your facts again, people. Unempoyment still rose because of the Free Trade Agreement sending jobs overseas and this was supported by the Republican Party.
When you make comments about the other side of the donkey and are possibly unemployed like a lot of Americans remember in your anger that you were actually screwed over by your own party.
This isn't the party of Lincoln anymore your token black guy Michael Steele who's about to Sing The Song Of the South should remember this after all even with Obama still as President their are still Old School people who still believe that a black men should still be shoe-shine boys, trash-men and restaurant workers.
Bipartism poltics with both parties needs to start now, the senseless bickering needs to stop now.
John McCain reached across the table long ago and was ignored. But he won't be ignored now.
America's frustrations for wanting change should be reflected for making change happen.
Because of bad politics not RACE and the onset of change to perhaps put the White House back in charge again with a white man in charge to do the job. White is Right? I'm sorry that sounds a lot like a Klu Klux Klan Statement.

[rwsmith29456]

Unhappy with Obama AND Congress?? NOOOO!

[Kimo Sutton]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
We win you loose. Eat it cold so it is more hurting to swallow.
You call us the enemy and wonder why we get out and vote? You spend paper that is owned by China, and you wonder how we vote. You want socialism while calling us names and you do not want to work. So if you like Canada go there as they will make you pay higher taxes, get less for your health, but the beer is great.

[curse914]

Crickets chirp...

[Reality-Checker]

Obama has been extremely influential, effective and practical with his priorities. The Health Care Reform - which is just now beginning to take effect- was a monumental achievement. He kept promises made by the Bush Administration to Iraq and Afghanistan. He pressed fair and practical reform for the financial industry. The past two years has been remarkable and I approve and applaud those achievements. All of them will serve as cornerstones for success in several diversified areas and directions of policy and interests.

[curse914]

Indeed. It is amusing when Righty Kooks call Obama "extreme." Yet, if questioned on what he passed that was extreme, silence...

[curse914]

by JavMD November 2, 2010 9:08 PM EDT
thats true... those with jobs are tired of 'paying' not only their own bills but having to support others (with Obama Socialism)...

this country was made great with 'Capitalism'... anyone has a chance to do well...
look at Bill Gates.. not even a college degree and a 'billionaire' giving away 50% to charity (though I think it should be more.. he took my money with windows millinum and Windows 2000 and 'Vista'.. I want a refund! thats the least you can do !

========================================

Funny you should mention Bill, since he want anyone making over 200k in Washington state to be taxed and I voted yes for that measure.

[curse914]

by nateroni November 2, 2010 8:41 PM EDT
The Republicans were the ones who ended slavery silly.
Lincoln was a Republican. The democrats are still the slave party they were just smart enough to get the poor to trade their chains and sharecropping for welfare checks and food stamps.
The best part is you sheep are too uneducated to realize it and too pig-headed to admit it once you are told. LOL
Have fun riding in the back of the bus,(Uhbama's words not mine)

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Those slaves helped fill the ranks of the Blue Coats so they could strengthen the ECONOMY of the "Union." I mean really, would you really want to give up the economic advantage of slave labor? The irony is today we have legalized and legislated slavery through outsourcing to countries that have no, product, labor or safety laws. Conservative is dogmatic, so by definition it is stagnant and unchanging. Democracy is antithetical to organized religion.

[miami_don]

by askagain November 2, 2010 9:16 PM EDT
Simple. Conservatives can't go to the Democrats to further conservative causes============================================That is a crock of crap and the statement shows how little you understand about the Democratic Party or politics in general. Where are you folks wanting to go? Fools who know nothing but act like they understand everything and have won based on a bad economy not issues? Your party has a chance to acomplish something but you do not have a game plan, and you are a party divided. I promise to be with you and point out every stupid thing you do.

[askagain]

miami_don - You still don't get it. Today the voters rejected the liberal platform. Voters do not like the direction in which our country is going. Voters clearly chose to follow conservative values. Perhaps you will better understand this when you read tomorrow mornings newspapers. Excuse me now. It is time to dance in the streets.

[Kathy131]

What is with all of the racist comments? The Republican Party was founded by anti-slavery activists. It was the Democratic Party that wanted slavery (look it up!). During the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Republican Party was a minority, but 80% voted for it, compared to 63% of the Democrats...I know a lot of Republicans and not one is racist. I'm not. I also voted for gay marriage...If you are so open-minded, then don't make assumptions about people you don't know.

[miami_don]

Kathy, come on, talk to me about that billboard in Colorado of Obama. Tell me how the TEA Party could never be accused of being color aware. I am a Southerner and I find myself insulted that this game of no racism --- I know a lot of Republicans and yes there are some of those who are racist. Most are in the TEA Party and eager to express their hatred.

[curse914]

The Parties have change much since then. The first and last "Republican" died with Lincoln.