Poll: 51 Percent Disapprove of Obama’s Job Performance, 43 Percent Approve

The
latest Reason-Rupe national poll finds president Obama’s
approval underwater with 43 percent who approve and 51 who
disapprove of his job performance. Specifically regarding the
president’s handling of the situation in Ukraine, approval slides
six points to 37 percent, while 40 percent disapprove and 21
percent don’t know enough to say.

COMPLETE POLL RESULTS

Presidential approval continued to slide throughout 2013
particularly in the wake of IRS political targeting, NSA
surveillance revelations, and the inauspicious launch of the
Affordable Care Act’s federal health insurance exchange website.
However, since December of 2013, attitudes have remained
steady through the spring.

A particularly noticeable slide in presidential approval has
occurred since 2013 among millennials (young Americans 18-29) a
crucial Obama constituency. Last spring 62% of
millennials approved of
President Obama’s job performance, a similar share who voted to
reelect him in 2012. However, approval has slid 11 points to 51
percent today among millennials.

Continuing a long-term trend that began in the middle of the
Bush administration, 60 percent of Americans say the country is
heading in the wrong direction, while 30 percent say the right
direction. Briefly in 2009 when President Obama first took office,
he assuaged concerns of the country’s trajectory. However, concerns
quickly ricochet back to levels found during the Bush
administration.

Congressional approval remains dismal with 17 percent who
approve and 74 percent disapprove. These low numbers can be
explained in part by the fact that Americans think an overwhelming
share of their elected officials use their power to hurt their
enemies and help their friends and are corrupted by special
interests.

Nationwide telephone poll conducted March 26-30 2014
interviewed 1003 adults on both mobile (503) and landline (500)
phones, with a margin of error +/- 3.6%. Princeton Survey Research
Associates International executed the nationwide Reason-Rupe
survey. Columns may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Full
poll results, detailed tables, and methodology found here. Sign
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Reason-Rupe poll here.