April 19 – 25, 2009 Key Polls

What They Told Us: Reviewing the week of April 19 – 25, 2009 Key Polls

Nearly 100 days into Barack Obama’s presidency, Americans are making a distinction between the man and his policies. Obama continues to maintain high – and stable – approval ratings in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. But 58% of voters believe the president’s recent decision to release CIA memos about the harsh interrogation methods used on terrorism suspects endangers the national security of the United States. Fifty-eight percent (58%) agree with the president, though, that there is no need for more investigations of those interrogations. Looking back, 59% of voters still believe the president’s bailouts for banks and other financial institutions were a bad idea. The numbers are similar for the bailout loans given to General Motors and Chrysler. In fact, most Americans think the bailouts will hurt the economy in the long term. Of course, in Michigan, home of the auto industry, voters have a slightly different view: The bank bailouts are bad, but the auto loans are just fine. Fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans overall have a favorable view of the “tea parties” held nationwide on April 15 to protest a variety of concerns. Sixty percent (60%) of Americans say the federal government already has too much power and too much money. Of course, in the case of both the bailouts and the tea parties, the Political Class is strongly at odds with Mainstream America. It’s important to note that the anger is not directed at a single individual or political party, it’s the Political Class itself. After all, Obama’s bailout plans just followed on the actions of President Bush. It’s no surprise then that 70% of all voters believe that big business and big government generally work together against the interests of investors and consumers. Still, despite the anger, just 11% of Americans say they would vote for their state to secede from the United States and form an independent country after Texas Governor Rick Perry raised that possibility 10 days ago. Working in the president’s favor are some positive signs in the economy. Job confidence appears to be growing amidst other signs of short-term economic optimism. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Americans now say if they leave their current job, it will be their own choice. That’s up eight points from the first of the year. Nearly half (49%) expect to be earning more a year from now. Yet only 44% of the nation’s workers expect to have the same employer in five years. Both the Rasmussen Consumer and Investor Indexes, which measure daily confidence, ended the week up slightly from the week before. While short-term optimism about the economy has grown, long-term optimism has declined, and the concern is growing that the federal government will do too much in response to the nation’s recent economic challenges. The latest Country Financial Security Index shows that just 54% of Americans now believe they are likely to have enough money for a secure retirement. This is down five points from February and the lowest-ever finding on retirement confidence. Fifty-two percent (52%) now worry that the government will do too much, up from 43% in mid-February In other polls last week:-- For the first time since Obama was elected president last November, more than half of U.S. voters (53%) say it is at least somewhat likely that the next occupant of the White House will be a Republican. But that’s not necessarily a prediction for 2012.-- For the second straight week, Democrats and Republicans are tied on the Generic Congressional Ballot.-- Voters, for the first time since the new Congress began meeting at the first of the year, now say both sides are equally partisan. Up until now, congressional Democrats have been seen as more partisan than their Republican counterparts.-- Thirty-seven percent (37%) of likely voters say the nation is heading in the right direction, showing no change from last week. Fifty-seven percent (57%) still think the nation is heading in the wrong direction.-- Pennsylvania’s Republican Primary is over a year away, but right now incumbent Senator Arlen Specter trails his conservative challenger, former Congressman Pat Toomey, by 21 points. Specter beat back Toomey’s challenge in 2004.-- Both men reportedly have their eyes on the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, but right now Mitt Romney, who ran unsuccessfully last year, has the edge over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one of the GOP’s most formidable strategists. -- Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, embroiled in a budget crisis like many state chief executives these days, may need to be thinking about another line of work. Just 33% of Massachusetts voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for the Democratic incumbent if he seeks reelection in 2010.-- While Americans celebrated Earth Day for the 39th time last week, only 31% of American adults believe their fellow countrymen are environmentally aware. But 70% of Americans say their families participate in recycling.-- Spring has sprung, and one thing 27% of Americans adults plan to spring for this season is a vacation. That's up eight points from March of last year.