Posted on 11/18/2009 7:34:00 AM PST by MaestroLC
President Barack Obama's job approval rating is 48 - 42 percent, the first time he has slipped below the 50 percent threshold nationally, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support for the war in Afghanistan and approval of President Obama's handling of the war also is down in the last month, and Republican support for the war is more than twice as strong as Democratic support.
American voters say 48 - 41 percent that fighting the war in Afghanistan is the right thing to do, down from 52 - 37 percent in an October 7 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Voters disapprove 49 - 38 percent of the President's handling of the war there, down from 42 - 40 percent approval in October.
But voters say 65 - 29 percent, including 68 - 25 percent among military households, that eliminating the threat of terrorists operating from Afghanistan "is a worthwhile goal for American troops to fight and possibly die for," compared to 65 - 28 percent last month.
Voters say 47 - 42 percent that President Obama should send 40,000 more combat troops to Afghanistan as the military commanders on the ground have requested. Only 27 percent of Democrats want more troops, compared to 68 percent of Republicans. Similarly, 68 percent of Republicans, but only 31 percent of Democrats, think the United States is doing the right thing fighting in Afghanistan.
"Increasingly, the President finds himself with two different coalitions, one that backs him on domestic matters and a completely different one that backs him on Afghanistan. That could create a challenge to his considerable political skills," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Most American voters, 55 percent, say the U.S. should keep troops in Afghanistan for two years or less, up from 49 percent last month. Only 27 percent of voters say keep troops there as long as it takes, down from 30 percent. And 35 percent say the U.S. is getting into a situation like Vietnam, up from 32 percent last month.
"Although President Obama's job approval rating is below 50 percent for the first time nationally, it is not statistically different from his 50 percent approval rating in October. Nevertheless, in politics symbols matter and this is not a good symbol for the White House," said Brown. "Moreover, the percentage who approve of the way he is handling the economy has dropped from a split 47 - 46 percent approval in October to 52 - 43 percent disapproval today."
The President has a yawning gender and racial gap, with women approving his job performance 52 - 37 percent, compared to men's 47 - 44 percent disapproval. He gets 89 percent job approval among blacks and 62 percent approval among Hispanics while white voters disapprove 49 - 41 percent. His support also wanes as you go up the age and income scale.
"Overall, the new numbers on Afghanistan show an almost across the board erosion of support for the war and worries about getting too deeply involved there militarily. But when the focus is on fighting terror, American resolve remains strong," Brown said.
"Still, these results are an indication that there is not much stomach for a long-term U.S. commitment there and the number of Americans who feel that way is growing.
"One reason the President's approval for his handling of the Afghanistan situation may be falling is the criticism he is not deciding on troop levels quickly enough."
American voters trust Obama 53 - 42 percent to make the right decisions about troop levels, down from 55 - 38 percent in October. Voters trust the military 77 - 18 percent to make the right recommendations on that question, compared to 81 - 15 percent last month.
LOL. His poll numbers are dropping faster than the average American’s net worth.
his approval ratings are falling because his dream is becoming a nightmare.
he is incompetent, no leadership abilities, and all around buffoon.
Doesn’t matter...His followers are cultish. This coke head, white hating egomaniac can do know wrong....He’s the political version of Michael Jackson...
According to a Zogby poll I saw today, only 43% say they would vote to re-elect the bamster.
I guess some people need to be hit in the head with a 2x4 before they start paying attention.
Obama’s approval rating in the IQ range above 60 is under 20%
Rasmussen just posted it at -14 with a mere 26% strongly approve.
DIVE DIVE DIVE DIVE
Gee, do you suppose this has anything to do with cutting healthcare for seniors?
Seniors were the only demo that went for McCain over da One. I suspect their votes will prove disastrous for RATS in 2010.
Some will never have that “2x4 epiphany”,
that is, until the welfare checks stop.
Obama is not one of us.
This is only because both men are muslim dictators by nature.
We all know it will never go below 13%.....
How do you think he’ll do with the 40 to 50 women’s vote
after the latest breast cancer recommendations?
42% think this guy is great? Brother we are in deep...
Does anyone here happen to know what the lowest President GW Bush’s approval ratings were?
They were right about the "meteor" part, but meteors don't rise from the earth's surface.
THEY CRASH INTO THE GROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is it me or have his poll numbers dipped below 50% for the first time about 5 times so far.
It is the mentally ill who favored him then, and the seriously deranged that favor him now.
The mindless drones that still currently support him are no different than the damn idiots who followed Jim Jones down to their deaths in Guyana back in '78.
They truly are a lost cause in terms of civility and psychological stability.
Sure. In 5 different polling companies. Rasmussen was first.
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