Poll: Public Still Has Confidence In Geithner

By: Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics: AIG

(CBS)

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has come under fire recently for his handling of the AIG bonus scandal, and some have called for him to resign. But according to the latest CBS News poll, released tonight, that sentiment is not shared by a majority of the public.

According to the poll, 54 percent of Americans have at least some confidence in Geithner, though only 13 percent say that have a lot of support him.

On the flip side, 15 percent say they have no confidence in Geithner.

As can be expected, views on this are decidedly partisan: Republicans express less confidence than Democrats.

It should be noted that Geithner still has the support of the most important person to his future – his boss. On 60 Minutes last night, President Obama said that even if Geithner would try to resign, he wouldn't accept it.

"If he were to come to me, I'd say, 'Sorry, Buddy. You've still got the job.' But look, he's got a lot of stuff on his plate. And he is doing a terrific job. And I take responsibility for not, I think, having given him as much help as he needs," Mr. Obama said.

Read the complete poll on American's views of the AIG bonuses and Mr. Obama's handling of the scandal.

CBS News Poll Database with poll data dating back to 1976

Also, we want to hear what you want CBS News to poll about in upcoming polls. If you have ideas, let us know

You can make your own prediction on Geithner's future below.

Make more predictions in our prediction center.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 949 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone March 20-22, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines 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.

Kevin Hechtkopf
Kevin Hechtkopf is CBSNews.com's politics editor.
Follow on Twitter »

29 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 29 Comments


by stevador39 March 25, 2009 1:29 PM EDT: CBS must have conducted this poll on Wall Street.; Reply to this comment


by nuttah1 March 25, 2009 11:56 AM EDT: The people they poll anyway probably don't even know the guy didn't pay his taxes. They just are following the Obama masses like zombies. Everything Obama says or does is great! It's all coolaid.; Reply to this comment


by nuttah1 March 25, 2009 11:52 AM EDT: The dems have nothing without the blame Bush mantra. Absolutely nothing! You can see nothing good from your boy yet so all you have is blame Bush. That horse is dead. Try to find something original.; Reply to this comment


by J_G_H March 25, 2009 9:34 AM EDT: Considering the low quality of the Bush administration, Republican criticism of Geithner, even if it were accurate, is hypocritical. I see it as deliberate obstructionism. Gentlemen, the saying is "Lead, follow, or get OUT of the way." Republicans have substituted "Get IN the way" and made it their preferred option.; Reply to this comment


by cgastelum March 24, 2009 10:55 PM EDT: Liberals are to busy entertained with stuff like what kind of dog Obama is going to get or the first time he rides Air force or the first time he flashes the white house toliet or MIchelle Obama planting a garden, that Obama could take away their life time savings and they wouldn't know it or care. Liberals really, get educated, you sound pathic trying to defend Obama and his crew (crooks); Reply to this comment


by cgastelum March 24, 2009 10:44 PM EDT: NO INTEGRITY, NO ETHICS, NO CONSCIENCE and NO BRAINS - TAX CHEAT geithner!!!!! Just the right requirements for a liberal!! That's why he was hired..It's pretty scarey when they are running our country. No wonder we're doing so Gooooooooooooood!!!!!!!!! NOT!!!!
Goes to show Liberals have rocks in their heads. You can tell they don't know their math for one.; Reply to this comment


by valh1 March 24, 2009 5:19 PM EDT: This is a really stupid poll. One of the answers is SOME? Some can mean anything. But like the article says, Obama still has faith in him so what do the rest of us matter. I predict he will go under the bus at some point, though, with Rev. Wright and grandma.; Reply to this comment


by theystink March 24, 2009 1:29 PM EDT: Just another slanted CBS poll.; Reply to this comment


by iam4honesty March 24, 2009 1:29 PM EDT: The republican party has become very much like a traveling circus. Everywhere you go you can find their clown acts. Some of them are actually very funny.; Reply to this comment


by cs4466 March 24, 2009 1:22 PM EDT: THIS GUY IS A COCKROACH
Posted by grabandgo at 9:06 AM : Mar 24, 2009

No, this article is about Geithner, not GW Bush.; Reply to this comment