Free Republic

The rich aren't taxed enough and the middle class is taxed too much. As for your taxes, you probably think they're too high as well. Those are the results of an Associated Press-GfK poll that found that most people in the United States support President Barack Obama's proposal to raise investment taxes on high-income families. The findings echo the populist messages of two liberal senators — Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont — being courted by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party to run for president in 2016. The results also add weight to Obama's new...

Mitt Romney continues his momentum in a poll conducted both before and after the final presidential debate, taking the lead for the first time among likely voters in the AP/GfK poll at 47/45. Not only are respondents starting to question Barack Obama&'s chances of winning the election, but Obama's gender gap advantage has disappeared: What gender gap?Less than two weeks out from Election Day, Republican Mitt Romney has erased President Barack Obama's 16-point advantage among women, a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows. And the president, in turn, has largely eliminated Romney's edge among men.Those churning gender dynamics leave the presidential...

The bounce has officially dissipated. A new AP/GfK national poll of likely voters shows Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in a virtual tie, with Obama having a 1-point edge at 47/46. The internals, noted by the Washington Post, show a demographic divide that should surprise no one paying attention to the race, but one that obviously balances out and doesn't help the incumbent: President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney stand about even among likely voters, with 47 percent backing Obama and 46 percent Romney. But there are sharp demographic divides driving each candidateÂ’s support.Women broadly back the president...

Right after I wrote about the rash of disapproval affecting our country, the AP released this encouraging poll. Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s entrance into the 2012 presidential race appears to have done more than knock Mitt Romney off the frontrunner pedestal: Most Republicans say they’re now satisfied with their choices in presidential candidates, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll released Friday.Sixty-four percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they are satisfied with their options in candidates to face off against President Obama next fall. That represents an increase since June, when just half of Republicans said they were pleased with...

[...] Among other poll details: —Republicans still give Romney the highest favorability rating among announced candidates, at 61 percent. Palin, who’s keeping everyone guessing about her intentions, is holding steady, too, with a 63 percent favorability rating. —Bachmann’s favorability rating jumped from 41 percent to 54 percent among Republicans. A third still have no opinion about her, and it’s too soon to tell if her boost will endure or was a June phenomenon. [...]

Wow! The AP poll has Obama’s approval rating hitting 60 percent! And 53 percent say he deserves to be reelected! And on the economy, 52 percent approve of the way Obama’s handling it, and only 47 percent disapprove! He’s up 54–46 on approval of how he’s handling health care! On unemployment, 52 percent approval, 47 percent disapproval! 57 percent approval on handling Libya! Even on the deficit, he’s at 47 percent approval, 52 percent disapproval! It is a poll of adults, which isn’t surprising; as I mentioned yesterday, you don’t have to be a registered or likely voter to have...

Barack Obama tried to make the case for tax hikes yesterday as a means to close the budget deficit and reduce debt, but a new poll from the Associated Press shows that new taxes will be a tough sale. Voters prefer spending cuts to tax hikes by a 62/29 margin, a much more significant divide than between those who believe their tax levels to be fair or not: Not that they’re cheering. Fewer people expect refunds this year than in previous years, a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows. But as Monday’s filing deadline approaches, the poll shows that 54 percent...

WASHINGTON -- If anyone is as scorned as much as Democrats these days, it's Republicans - the very party that may recapture the House and perhaps the Senate in November's elections. Yet Democrats face a problem, even as they try exploiting GOP unpopularity by warning against letting them run Congress. People who dislike Democrats seem ready to vote in greater numbers than those with little use for Republicans. In an Associated Press-GfK Poll this month, 60 percent disapprove of the job congressional Democrats are doing - yet 68 percent frown on how Republicans are performing. While 59 percent are unhappy...

AP-GfK Poll Bolsters Congressional Democrats ALAN FRAM, TREVOR TOMPSON June 16, 2010 WASHINGTON - There's encouraging news for Democrats battling to retain control of Congress in this fall's elections, with the party holding a slender edge in public trust for shepherding the economy and small gains in those saying their finances are healthy, according to a new poll. The reeling economy remains people's top concern, according to an Associated Press-GfK Poll conducted earlier this month, making public attitudes about it crucial for both parties' hopes in November. The good news for Democrats: By a margin of 47 percent to 42...

WASHINGTON – A majority of Americans disapprove of how President Barack Obama has handled the devastating Gulf oil spill though far more blame BP for what people call a sluggish two-month response, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll released Tuesday. It comes as the president seeks to show more forceful leadership in confronting the nation's worst environmental crisis and convince a skeptical public he's up to the task. The survey found that 52 percent don't approve of Obama's handling of the spill, a significant increase from last month when a big chunk of Americans withheld judgment. But Obama's overall...

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Millions of people jobless. Billions of dollars in bailouts. Trillions of dollars in U.S. debt. And yet, for the first time in years, more Americans than not say the country is on the right track. In a sign that Barack Obama has inspired hopes for a brighter future in the first 100 days of his presidency, an Associated Press-GfK poll shows that 48 percent of Americans believe the United States is headed in the right direction — compared with 44 percent who disagree. The "right direction" number is up 8 points since February and a remarkable 31...

For the first time in years, more Americans than not say the country is headed in the right direction, a sign that Barack Obama has used the first 100 days of his presidency to lift the public's mood and inspire hopes for a brighter future. Intensely worried about their personal finances and medical expenses, Americans nonetheless appear realistic about the time Obama might need to turn things around, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. It shows most Americans consider their new president to be a strong, ethical and empathetic leader who is working to change Washington. Nobody knows how long...

WASHINGTON – In one of the economy's darkest hours in decades, it looks as if people are taking Barack Obama up on his exhortations for hope and change. Seven in 10, or 72 percent, voice confidence the president-elect will make the changes needed to revive the stalling economy, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll released Tuesday. Underscoring how widely the public is counting on its new leader, 44 percent of Republicans joined nearly all Democrats and most independents in expressing that belief. The poll shows trust in Obama's ability to succeed is even broader, at least for now. Sixty-eight percent...

A recent AP poll screamed trouble for Barack Obama. It reported his base support to be just 80%. If this is accurate, and that is a very big IF, he can not win. Last June when former Hillary Clinton supporters were asked, 58% supported Obama. But the same survey also showed 21% voting for John McCain. A follow-up survey of the very same people showed support for McCain had grown to 28% while remaining stagnant at 58% for Obama. The undecideds seem to be moving to McCain. These numbers have been swept under the rug by the media, but they...

A new AP poll showing John McCain down by one point was indeed good news. A quick read of its likely voter internals provides stunning news: Obama’s base support is not there Hiding down at the very end of the article was a stunning piece of bad news for Barack Obama: Democrat base support is just “eight of 10” and the Republican base support for McCain is 90%. Neither candidate can win with just 80% of his base support. The “even split” found among Independents clearly adds to Obama’s troubles if these numbers hold. The Joe the Plumber factor McCain...

It’s not that the tide of the race is turning. But for Republicans anxiously scanning the headlines for any sign of promising news, a few encouraging tidbits turned up Wednesday – signs that recent rumors of the McCain campaign’s demise have been premature. Most heartening for conservatives will likely be a new Associated Press poll, conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, which showed the presidential race as a one-point contest. According to this survey, Obama leads McCain among likely voters nationwide by just 44 percent to 43 percent. That showing represents a six-point improvement for McCain since AP-GfK’s...

WASHINGTON -- In an ominous election-year sign for Republicans, Americans are leaning sharply toward giving Democrats control of Congress, an AP-Ipsos poll finds. Democrats are favored 49 percent to 36 percent. The poll was taken this week as Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to tax evasion, fraud and corruption charges and agreed to aid a federal investigation of members of Congress and other government officials. President Bush's job approval remains low — 40 percent in the AP-Ipsos poll. About as many approve of his handling of Iraq, where violence against Iraqis and U.S. troops has been surging. "I don't...

Here's why Southern California is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason poll: Every player who scored a touchdown in the Trojans' 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in last season's Orange Bowl is still playing for USC. And so is Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, who threw five TD passes. Leinart, Reggie Bush and the rest of Pete Carroll's crew provided a scary glimpse of what was to come in 2005 when they wrapped up their second straight national title on that warm January night in Miami. This year's goal is three in a row, something that's never been done. ``It's...

WASHINGTON - Most Americans want the next pope to work for changes in Roman Catholic Church policies to allow priests to marry and women to join the priesthood. And they want more done to combat sexual abuse by priests, an AP-Ipsos poll found. A solid majority of Americans, and Catholics in the country, are calling for the changes even while saying they widely admire Pope John Paul II, who supported traditional policies against priest marriage and against allowing women into the priesthood. "He crossed so many boundaries, opened doors to many governments," said Joseph Riess, a Catholic businessman from Vienna,...

WASHINGTON (AP) - If Democrat John Kerry has a chance of winning the White House, he must win over many in the small but central slice of the electorate known as ``persuadable'' voters who harbor serious doubts about his leadership abilities. They tend to like Kerry better on handling the economy and half say a fresh start would be worth the risk. But doubts about his leadership skills are mentioned early as an obstacle to those considering a switch to the Democratic nominee.An Associated Press poll of 1,329 persuadable voters highlighted the difficult task facing Kerry in the dwindling weeks...