President Barack Obama
UTICA, N.Y. – President Barack Obama’s job approval rating has dipped to 39 percent, equaling a low since he took office two years ago, according to a newly released Zogby Interactive poll.
A majority of likely voters – 63 percent – see the President as a weak leader, compared to just 19 percent who say he is strong. More than two thirds (68 percent) believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction.
The poll, taken after Obama announced a compromise plan with Congressional Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans – including the wealthiest, show a loss of support from within his own party. Obama’s approval rating went down nine percentage points among Democrats, from 82 to 73 percent. Among independents, it fell from 39 percent to 36 percent. Only 7 percent of Republicans approve of the President.
When asked about Obama’s negotiation with Congressional Republicans, 26 percent said that he gives in too easily, 19 percent said that he is unwilling to compromise and 18 percent said that he takes the right approach. One third did not agree with any of those three descriptions.
Voters were split on whether Obama has done better, worse or about the same as other presidents in keeping campaign promises, but only 29 percent said that he has done an excellent (4 percent) or good (25 percent) job.
During his campaign, Obama pledged not to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of American families – those making more than $250,000 per year.
These results are from a poll of 1,914 likely voters conducted from Dec. 8-10. It has a margin of error of +/-2.3 percent.
