Poll: High Marks for Obama's State of the Union Speech

CBS

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

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Updated: Jan. 26, 12:31AM ET with Final Numbers

An overwhelming majority of Americans approved of the overall message in President Obama's State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, according to a CBS News poll of speech watchers.

According to the poll, which was conducted online by Knowledge Networks immediately after the president's address, 91 percent of those who watched the speech approved of the proposals Mr. Obama put forth during his remarks. Only nine percent disapproved.

Last year, 83 percent of viewers approved of Mr. Obama's State of the Union remarks.

CBSNews.com Special Coverage: State of the Union 2011

This year, 82 percent of those who watched the speech said they approve of the president's plans for the economy, up from 53 percent who approved before the speech. Eighty percent said they approved of Mr. Obama's plans for the deficit -- in contrast to 45 percent before the speech. Eighty-three percent approved of Mr. Obama's proposals regarding Afghanistan, which received only a 57 percent approval rating beforehand.

The sight of Democrats and Republicans sitting side by side gave speech watchers more confidence about the possibility of bipartisan cooperation: 62 percent said they expect more bipartisanship now than in years past.

In his speech, Mr. Obama outlined ways to limit federal spending and reign in the deficit. Of those watching, fifty-six percent said they think the president's economic plans could reduce government spending; 43 percent were not persuaded.

The president had more success convincing viewers that his economic proposals would lead to job growth and increased success on the international playing field: 75 percent of viewers said they thought the president's plans would make America more competitive in the world economy, and 75 percent also said they thought the plans outlined in his speech would create jobs. That's up from 55 percent before the speech.

Mr. Obama also defended health care reform in the speech -- and approval of the law saw a slight boost among speech watchers. Sixty-five percent said they approved of the health care law after the address, a nine-point boost from pre-speech numbers.

Americans who watched the speech were generally more Democratic than the nation as a whole. Forty-four percent of viewers polled were Democrats and 25 percent were Republicans. (Historically speaking, that is not an unusual statistic: a president's supporters are more likely than his opponents to watch State of the Union addresses.)

Tuesday night was Mr. Obama's second State of the Union address as president. In his remarks, Mr. Obama focused on creating jobs and economic growth, national unity, and spurring American innovation through research and education.

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Read the Complete Poll

The poll, conducted by CBS News, with the help of Knowledge Networks, has a nationally representative poll of approximately 500 people who watched President Obama give his State of the Union address, reacting in the minutes after the President's speech. This is a scientifically representative poll of speech watchers. The margin of sampling error could be plus or minus 4 percentage points for results based on the entire sample.

14 Photos

President Obama's State of the Union Address

[joe1022joe]

Obama gives a good speech. That's all folks.

[ge556]

karends309,
I have a pretty similar story, except that I lost my job in 2001, before 9/11. Obama has tried to turn things around, with the Republicans determined to prevent him from doing anything, so they can take him out this November. We need to take the Republicans out, instead.

[norcalruss]

91 percent of those who watched the speech approved of the proposals Mr. Obama put forth during his remarks. Only nine percent disapproved.
+++++++++++++++++++++
The 9% were the angry, grumpy, Obama-hating, mad-at-the-world Repigs.

[ge556]

It was wonderful to think that only 9% are Obama-haters, until I realized that most Obama-haters didn't watch.

I guess they don't want to know what Obama is really up to, only what Fox/Rush say he is.

[RobAla]

The most stark absence from President Obama's SOTU address was the fact that he totally ignored the massive debt we have accumulated under his administration. It grew under most Presidents, but it accelerated dramatically under him. He talked about making major cuts to defense - but did he indicate that he would use those savings to bring down the debt? NO. He talked about spending that money on other federal projects. He has NO PLAN to deal with our racing toward national bankruptcy. He has ZERO plans to stop this reckless and irresponsible nonsense.

I listened to the President Obama's third State of the Union Address, and I have come to the conclusion that he is a schizophrenic. He talked about everyone playing by the same rules, after giving out $100s of billions of taxpayer dollars to corporations of his choice while allowing other businesses to fend for themselves. He talked about reducing federal regulations on business, after burying American businesses under increased regulations contained in his disastrous health care law, He talked about national unity, after he has divided Americans and pitted one group of Americans against another for three years. He announced that "America is back", after burying the nation under deficit spending like no other President in American history. He announced "no more bailouts", after being the king of bailouts. He talked about energy independence, after stopping a oil pipeline that would have made American less dependent on middle-eastern oil and would have created more than 20,000 jobs. I have never heard a more twisted, muddled, and conflicted speech in all my life.

[RobAla]

ghostfighter-2009: That is what people were saying when President Bush had large deficit spending years while dealing with terrorist after 9/11. Many said it was worth it because we were attacked.

The problem is that Congress should have the guts to pass balanced budget laws, because there is always an excuse to spend more than we have due to some situation. During times of crisis, we have to have the responsible discipline to cut back in other areas of federal spending, if situations demand that we spend more in a particular area. We have not done that. My state does that, but the folks in Washington aren't that responsible.

[lucci123]

GOP and Mitt Romney said that they understand middle class; however, middle class are the one that make the different on Mitt 13.9 % tax rate, middle class make the different on his tax when he put his money in offshore accounts to avoid paying tax rate here in U.S. Mitt Romney made hundred of million on the back of American workers and now he wants ordinary American people to pay the different on his tax. In fact, he's promoting to the public that when he becomes president, he should pay half of 13.9 % while ordinary American will pay more than today tax rate. Is Mitt Romney and GOP for ordinary American or they are on the side of their elites friends?

Do you know that we borrow China $700 billion dollars a year to pay for super rich tax cut, because this is what the GOP wants? Further, in the eyes of GOP, this $700 billion dollars do not drive federal deficit, but jobs growth. Where are the jobs creations from $700 billion dollars tax cut? According to Newt, we're still affected by 911. Isn't this more than 10 years ago? Apparently, Newt, Mitt, and GOP are still in denial or in a coma. Not too long ago, GOP & Bush brought down the U.S and global economy, and now they're an expert on fixing this?

GOP and Tear Party, please stop pretending like you care about federal deficit when you're the one that drive the federal deficit sky rock--from two wars that unpaid for and borrow $700 billion dollars a year from China to pay for super rich tax cut that they don't need.

Warren Buffett told ABC that his secretary's Debbie works just as hard as he does and she pays twice the rate he pays. He thinks that's outrageous. However, GOP think working people like Debbie tax rate in compare to the super rich is fair. It's like Sadam Hussein saying that he loves his people.

[noloyalisti]

Now We the 99% must hold his feet to the fire. We must all be ready to unite when Obama tries to make any deals with the devil (Republicons or giant corporations).

This year when Obama makes the deal with the corporations to bring their corrupt money back from their tax havens at pennies on the dollar (instead of the 35% corporate tax rate) we should be ready to General Strike.

Next year when Obama and the Congress vote to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich that will cost us $4.5 trillion, we need to be ready to revolt.

This is the time to start lining up support with all progressive and other organizations. Talk to people in your clubs, groups, meetings, churches, etc., etc, so we can be ready for the new government of the 99% (as opposed to the current corrupt one completely run for the Top 1%).

[Irishlass72]

Thank God! Finally some good news on the Horizon:) I listened carefully to his plans and attitudes on a wide range of impending reforms and issues and was comforted. There has been way too much stalemating this past political year and someone needs to make a first move. President Obama is not weary of taking charge and taking action. I DO believe in his rhetoric and I KNOW without a doubt he IS the best person for the job ahead. Feel confident and secure in the knowledge that a sunrise is on the horizon and we will make it through.

[The Platzner Post]

Obama's SOTU speech was a Winner!!

[iAmaUSCitizen]

After reading hate messages and responses, I have decided to post a comment. I am not a republican, a democrat, a liberal, an independent, a communist... I AM AN UNITED STATES AMERICAN CITIZEN....
Classifying myself as anything but is an injustice to our country. We should vote like AMERICAN CITIZENS, not like a particular party. Why? Because when we divide ourselves into groups we begin to fight about things simply because that is what we are EXPECTED to do as a particular affiliate to one party, therefore we begin to argue about what party is right, which one is wrong... and amidst the senseless arguing we miss the important things, we miss the humanism, we miss our responsibility as US citizens, we create hate and injustice, we create a government that CAN NOT WORK... Sometimes it is very hard to get passed ourselves and look deeper into things and our life around us. I challenge you to do so, you might just realize you will find happiness!

[JWnTX]

You idiots who think Obama's going to win a second term are delusional. Do you read anything but Kos or DU or New Republic? Seriously. I weep for the ignorance of the left. Name-calling and fear-mongering are all you have left. Obama has been an abject failure of a president and will go down in history as the worst president we've ever had. He makes George W. Bush look erudite. Enjoy the last few months of your presidency--because it was a fluke to begin with and, just like post-Jimmy Carter, there won't be another lib able to fool the American people for about 40 years.

[GinoTelesca]

"Name-calling and fear-mongering are all you have left."

Preceded by, "You idiots who think Obama's going to win a second term are delusional."

Oh my....thanks for the early morning chuckle!!

[AshburnStadium]

I believe it's you that is delusional. The ONLY reason Obama hasn't gone down in the list of all-time greatest presidents is because he has been blocked at every turn by your un-American, treasonous party, which has openly stated that they would do anything, even destroy the American economy, to derail Obama. Harper's Magazine had an article in April 2008 called "Worst. President. Ever." where they came up with numerous reasons why a vast majority of historians now consider George W. Bush as the worst president in American history, even worse than James Buchanan.

You also suffer under the delusion that any of the candidates now running on the GOP ticket are in the least bit electable. 50 years ago, three of those four would have been committed to an insane asylum.

Mitt Romney: Over a quarter-billion dollars in his pockets. A true 1%er who can't win the votes of the average working stiff.

Newt Gingrich: Cheated on two wives (who knows if he's cheating on #3), ethics violations, wants to jail federal judges who don't agree with him, wants to establish a state on the moon (in violation of international agreements which disallow any earthly nation to make any claim on the moon), wants to bomb Havana.

Rick Santorum: Wants rape victims who become pregnant to carry the baby to term as a "gift from God."

Ron Paul: Wants to repeal the Civil Rights Act, wants to repeal Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare (goodbye senior vote), wants to repeal the minimum wage and opposes equal pay for women. Recently spoke in front of a Confederate flag.

Hopefully, Americans haven't been dumbed down as much as you have. If Americans were to finally wake up, the Republican Party would go the way of their predecessors, the Whigs. Time magazine had a story in 2009 which basically wrote the obituary for the GOP, but the average uneducated American resuscitated this party that only stands for the ultra-rich. I can't understand how ANY American who makes less than a million dollars a year can even support this anachronism.

There are many groups who vote GOP that haven't the brains to realize that the GOP opposes them. Farmers? The GOP opposes farm programs. Seniors? See Ron Paul (above, but many GOP leaders share his views). Women? See Ron Paul. Minorities? See Ron Paul. What Republican has done ANYTHING for minorities since Lincoln? Gays? How can there be a Log Cabin Republican Party? The GOP opposes gay marriage. Any gay marriage ban would be in violation of the 14th Amendment, which outlaws states from denying any citizen any privilege that they grant to another.

I don't want to take our country back - I want to take our country FORWARD.

(By the way, Jesus Christ was a liberal. He was turned over to Pontius Pilate by the conservative Pharisees who were frightened by His liberal teachings)