Newsweek National Poll: Obama 47% approval, 45% disapproval/ 24% say Muslim

[WI_DEM]

(This poll backs up the TIME poll of a week or so ago which had Obama at 46/45)


Newsweek
8/25-26/10; 1,029 adults, 3.7% margin of error
856 registered voters, 4.1% margin of error
Mode: Live telephone interviews
(Newsweek release)

National

2010 Congress: Generic Ballot
45% Republican, 45% Democrat (chart)

Obama Job Approval
47% Approve, 45% Disapprove (chart)
Dems: 82 / 14 (chart)
Reps: 8 / 88 (chart)
Inds: 41 / 48 (chart)
Economy: 40 / 56 (chart)
Health Care: 43 / 51 (chart)

As far as you know, what is Barack Obama's religion? Is he a Christian, a Muslim, or something else?
42% Christian, 24% Muslim, 10% Something else

Party ID
35% Democrat, 27% Republican, 29% independent (chart)

Per Newsweek:
The NEWSWEEK poll over the weekend tries to lighten the mood, with mixed results.

As Democrats prepare for considerable losses in the November elections, there’s reason to believe the party in power may not be headed for the bloodbath it might expect. According to a new NEWSWEEK Poll, President Obama’s approval rating—47 percent—indicates that the party is better off this year than Republicans were in 2006, when the GOP lost 30 House seats, and than the Democrats were in 1994, when they lost 52 House seats.

This isn't the final word on polling by any means, but there are some good points made about current affairs. For example, it's common to talk about Obama's "plummeting" numbers, but sans Rasmussen, they aren't plummeting. (When he gets to the 30's like Carter or George W. Bush, call me):

Obama’s approval has fallen 1 percentage point since the last NEWSWEEK survey in June, but the White House has gained ground on several specific issues, specifically his handling of the economy, which has risen to 40 percent (from 38 percent) over the past two months. Voters also generally approve of Obama’s response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the administration’s handling of the war in Iraq, which Obama is expected to address next week from the

[craigmatic]

1. Those aren't great numbers but if he can make it to 50% after labor day we have a chance to keep

congress.

[WI_DEM]

2. Actually considering unemployment, etc--47/45 (+2) is pretty good and bette

than Reagan or Clinton at comparable time.

[WI_DEM]

3. Voters still blame Bush 2-1 over Obama according to poll:

Here's the reason Republicans still have to work to make gains in November:

Still, Democrats’ perceived weakness may not be so simple for the GOP to capitalize on this fall. Republican leaders still must deal with the Bush legacy, which 38 percent fault for today’s economic problems (compared with 19 percent who fault Obama’s policies). The public also strongly opposes extending the Bush tax cuts by a spread of 52 percent who think the cuts should expire at the end of this year, and 38 percent who would like them to be extended

[JaneQPublic]

4. Obama's ratings this year have been better than Reagan's...

...at the same point in his presidency. At the below link, click on Reagan to compare his polls with Obama's:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/124922/Presidential-Approval-Center.aspx

[activa8tr]

5. Americans must be stupider and stupider.

I know some liberals and progressives, (like me) aren't entirely happy with Obama, (mostly over social issues and over the lack of job creation happening).

But what is the alternative? Why is 20 months too long to expect full recovery? I can wait a year to two more for gay marriage through the courts, can wait 3-6 months MORE for DADT repeal, etc.

But really, it's the bankers, the investment houses, the lack of creative and cooperative Republicans in Congress... responsible for lack of jobs, plus a normal cycle of economics, going from off the cliff to back on a slow road to recovery.

So few people understand the dynamics here, understand economics, and understand what Obama is up against with two wars, recession, and more than one far right 24/7/365 propaganda machines on the media.

It's not easy being President anytime, but probably harder than ever now.

[FBaggins]

6. Unfortunately, Newsweek isn't the only polling firm out there.

Nor even one of the better ones.

This poll backs up the TIME poll of a week or so ago which had Obama at 46/45

When Time and Newsweek say one thing and Gallup and Reuters/Ipsos say something else... don't assume that Newsweek is the one that's correct.

[Jennicut]

7. When all the latest polls are averaged on Real Clear Politics it shows a 45.9% approval.

Which is about 46% approval vs the 47% approval in this poll. Disapproval is higher on the RCP but the approval #'s are not that different.