September 1, 2009 6:30 PM

Poll: Obama Approval Rating Dips Slightly

By
Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics
Polling
(CBS)

Despite continued attacks from Republicans in August over his health care plans, President Obama's overall approval rating has only dipped a couple percentage points. In the latest CBS News poll released Tuesday night, the president's overall approval rating is 56 percent, which is down two points from the last poll taken at the end of July.

That rating for Mr. Obama is the lowest in a CBS News poll since he took office in January, but only by one point. The president's approval rating in mid-July was at 57 percent, according to CBS News polling.

The president's approval rating hit a high in late April at 68 percent just as Mr. Obama was completing his first 100 days in office. The rating remained in the 60s until dropping in that mid-July poll.

However, even though there isn't a pronounced dip in his approval rating, there are some other possibly troubling signs in this new poll for the president. The president's disapproval rating jumped five points since the July poll to 35 percent, which is a new high mark.

Search the CBS News Poll Database

In addition, Mr. Obama's rating on particular issues has declined. On health care, which has taken much of his focus over the summer, only 40 percent approve of the president's job performance, and 47 percent disapprove. That's nearly the reverse of July, when 46 percent approved and 38 percent disapproved.

Mr. Obama's rating on other important issues is also below his overall approval rating. Fifty-three percent approve of the job he is doing on the economy, though that is up two points from July. However, he has just a 48 percent approval rating on Afghanistan, which is down eight points from when the question was last asked in April.

Yet, the president's rating is higher in other areas. Seventy-three percent say he has strong qualities of leadership, but that has dropped 12 points since February of this year. And 72 percent say he at least cares some about people like themselves, but the percentage of people who say he cares "a lot" dropped nine points from April to 45 percent now.

More CBS News Polls Released Today:

More Wary of Obama on Health Care
Public Split on Limiting Executive Pay
Two-Thirds Confused by Health Reform
Obama's Ratings on Afghanistan Drop
PDF: The Complete Poll – Health Care
PDF: The Complete Poll - Economy


This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,097 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone August 27-31, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

Add a Comment See all 56 Comments
by IrishEyes12 September 11, 2009 4:18 PM EDT
I don't understand why the entire Health Care Plan isn't available on-line. If the President had done this people would know for sure the truth of what is proposed. And, he could be held accountable for his promises. So, since he is all over the Internet with his proposal, why didn't he post it in its entirety?

I was in Quebec City, Canada this summer. I spoke with the locals about their life in a socialzed country. Taxes on everything you buy is 12%; income tax is 50% of what you earn.Everyone drives a relatively small car; beer seemed to be the national drink; and houses were similar in size. I asked about this and was told that the government makes it difficult to amass any wealth.

Another thing that confuses me is why my life is no better now than it was six months ago. In some ways, worse. My condo was just re-appraised and my taxes LOWERED, yes lowered because it is worth about $100,000 less than it was when I purchased it four years ago. It is in NJ. My Merrill Lynch life savings has ebbed by $50,000. Taxes will go up to pay for the bailouts, I believe. And, the deficit is going to be passed on to our great, great, great grandchildren. The war in Iraq is still taking the lives of our next generation with no end much in site.

I would like anyone to tell me when you say that Obama is doing a good job to what are you referring? Point it out to me, please. Maybe I am missing something.

I am supporting Congressman Mike Rogers for President.
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by DavidKC48 September 6, 2009 10:29 AM EDT
Who are these people being polled anyways?!? Polling at campuses like the University of Minnesota or Berkeley to name a couple are not what I would consider "fair & balanced!".
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by underdogus09 September 4, 2009 2:49 PM EDT
Through propaganda, Obama's popularity will soar. But eventually there will be the rude awakening that this man is a fraud and none of his plans have worked. You can't run a country with hypes alone. But a narcissist does not admit failure. Instead, he will spend millions more of your money on propaganda to persuade you that America has become a paradise and his detractors are merely liars....
Reply to this comment
by chuck-52 September 3, 2009 5:22 PM EDT
After you have made a comment, how long does it normally take for them to post it?
Reply to this comment
by chuck-52 September 3, 2009 5:14 PM EDT
They call this poll Obama Approval Ratings Dip Slightly. Do you think that they might be intentionally going light on the verbiage? Do you think that the news media still gives the administration a free pass?Show me anyone on any post anywhere that is in favor of the president right now? He has apponted Czars that hate America, has proposed a Health Care Plan which the authors and proponents never read first, and uses Cuba and Venezuela as a benchmark for how well we are doing. Not too many American citizens want to be like Cuba or Venezuela. But if he succeeds, then maybe he can be the supreme dictator. And lets let Congress be willing to use this health care plan if it is so great. If you are afraid to eat the soup, get out of the kitchen.
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by chuck-52 September 3, 2009 5:04 PM EDT
How is it possible for the new media to be so much in bed with the President and Congress? The media no longer reports the truth. We have to find out from blogs about the past history of all of the Czars in the Obama campaign. The media gives the intolerant liberals a free pass when they call conservatives right wing terrorists. how dare they. We love our country at least as much as liberals do... and when it comes right down to it, the liberals are the ones that are more likely to destroy it. Change is tolerable only as long as it does not destroy all that is good in the status quo.
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by logisticsguy September 3, 2009 4:32 PM EDT
The CBS 56% favorable poll skewing and the NBC and ABC refusal to air revealing commercials which would otherwise educate the American populace is borderline criminal. That ABC gets exclusive contact with The One, and GE owns NBC (and since GE has 'skin in the game' by supporting the Obummer whitehouse is clear), but what's cbs's benefit? Maybe they need to get 60 minutes rating up? Or are they above that...? Puh-lease. These folks all lost ALL of their formerly borderline credibility in the last 2 years... Not a joke - vote the Obummer crew out before all you see is truly Orwellian trash info.
Reply to this comment
by tomd73 September 3, 2009 9:38 AM EDT
Poll based on one question

Who do you like better
1. Barrack Obama
2. Bernie Madoff

Meant to obfuscate the true average polling data ( obfuscate means to hide the truth )
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by mld678 September 2, 2009 4:22 PM EDT
Why do you think? We need tax policies that preserve America?s global competitiveness, and we need to oppose policies that reduce businesses? ability to grow. Make the tax system simple and fair. A successful economy encourages investment and rewards achievement. It would be the height of economic folly to target any group for a major tax increase. http://www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/takeaction/index.cfm?ID=42
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by tiki33 September 2, 2009 1:35 PM EDT
yep - out of the "Top 23 Pollsters" in 2004 & 2008,
both elections -

Rasmussen was the most precise. This is fact.
Sometimes facts can be "inconvenient truths", yes?

And, the WH knows this, too. Hence their sudden panic.
They can sense it, and their polling people know all too well
which pollsters are most/least the true indicators of the
peoples' true feelings.

CBS is skewing the polls. They need to remember -
wishing don't make it so.

Please, media ~ get back to basics and serve your country with
dignity.

TELL THE TRUTH

THE WHOLE TRUTH

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

In other words ... do your job.
Reply to this comment
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