Obama Approval Stays Steady

I don't like where this numbers have gone down, it seems to me like some of the winger memes are starting to seep into people's brains.

A new Pew Research survey finds President Obama's approval rate steady at 55% after several months of sliding.

However, Obama has seen double-digit declines in positive views on several traits, including whether he cares about people like them (13 points), is a strong leader (12 points), trustworthy (12 points) and able to get things done (12 points).

A new Economist poll finds Obama's approval rate at 49%.

Poll finds uptick in economic optimism

I've heard the same cautious optimism around my area. Now, no one is going out and buying home theatre systems or whatever, but the feeling is out there.

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- A poll shows U.S. residents are slightly more optimistic about the economy and their personal finances but still reluctant to spend money.

The survey by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press found that 48 percent of those polled said they expect the economy to get better in the next year, up from 40 percent in February. On their own situation, 63 percent expect improvement, up from 54 percent in February.

(snip)

The percentage of respondents who say the economy is "poor" has dropped significantly to 52 percent from 68 percent in March. The percentage describing it as "fair" has increased from 25 percent to 39 percent.

The Political Middle Grows

So in other words, the socially moderate Republicans are abandoning the party for Democrats. Nice. Via Taegan-

Pew Research: "The proportion of independents now equals its highest level in 70 years. Owing to defections from the Republican Party, independents are more conservative on several key issues than in the past. While they like and approve of Barack Obama, as a group independents are more skittish than they were two years ago about expanding the social safety net and are reluctant backers of greater government involvement in the private sector. Yet at the same time, they continue to more closely parallel the views of Democrats rather than Republicans on the most divisive core beliefs on social values, religion and national security."

Independents Take Center Stage in Obama Era

Much good reading here. Via Taegan.

A fascinating Pew Research report on political party affiliation trends finds that 36% of Americans say they are independents, 35% are Democrats, while just 23% are Republicans.

The proportion of independents now equals its highest level in 70 years. In contrast, the professed affiliation with the Republican party "is the lowest in at least a quarter century. Moreover, on nearly every dimension the Republican Party is at a low ebb -- from image, to morale, to demographic vitality."

The overall gap between the two parties in political values "has hit another new high, with widening differences emerging over the government's overall performance and its responsibilities to the poor. In the wake of the election, Republicans have swung to a much more critical view of government while more Democrats take a positive view than at any previous point in the 22-year history of this study."

As to be expected, the political values of independents "are mixed and run counter to orthodox liberal and conservative thinking about government. Over the past two years, both Republicans and independents have become more wary of expanding the social safety net. However, most independents join with most Democrats in saying that a free market economy needs government regulation to best serve the public interest... But independents continue to be much closer to Democrats than to Republicans with respect to social values, religiosity and beliefs about national security."

29% Say Fox News "Too Critical" of Obama; 16% Say CNN/MSNBC "Too Easy" on Obama

Oh, there's going to be some teeth gnashing and frothing going on over at Faux tonight... Click to enlarge.

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press reveals some new data on how the American public (or at least the 1,000 people in a weekly nationwide ORC phone poll) responded to questions about which of the six broadcast and cable news networks have been too critical of Pres. Obama and which have been too soft. The full results are in the chart.

Pew Survey Charts Surge in Online Political Activity in 2008 Campaign

I doubt that any of this will be a surprise to our readers, but for a very good deeper look, go read FOB Greg Mitchell's analysis.

NEW YORK "The 2008 election was the first in which more than half the voting-age population used the internet for political purposes,” a new report by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, released late today, reveals. It also concludes, "Obama supporters were more active online than McCain supporters and online political users became more partisan in their information-seeking behavior."

Some 55% of all adults said they went online for news and information about the election or to communicate with others about the race. The percentage of Americans relying on the internet as a major source of campaign news more than doubled since the 2000 election (from 11% to 26%).

Obama backers took advantage of various emerging web activities – from text notifications to posting original content -- much more than McCain supporters, by roughly 3-2 or 2-1 margins. Fully 15% of Obama backers donated to his campaign online, compared with just 6% on the McCain side.

The survey, indeed, found that social media platforms and video-sharing sites “played a key role in 2008 as voters went online to share their views with others and try to mobilize them to their cause."

Pew- Barack Obama leads John McCain 52% to 36%

Ooooh baby. More at the link if you can take it.

Barack Obama leads John McCain by a 52% to 36% margin in Pew’s latest nationwide survey of 1,325 registered voters. This is the fourth consecutive survey that has found support for the Republican candidate edging down. In contrast, since early October weekly Pew surveys have shown about the same number of respondents saying they back Obama. When the sample is narrowed to those most likely to vote, Obama leads by 53% to 38%.

A breakdown of voting intentions by demographic groups shows that since mid- September, McCain’s support has declined significantly across most voting blocs. Currently, McCain holds a statistically significant advantage only among white evangelical Protestants (aside from Republicans). In addition, Obama runs nearly even with McCain in the so-called red states, all of which George W. Bush won in 2004.

Pew Poll- Obama Up By 14%, Growing Doubts About McCain's Judgment, Age and Campaign Conduct

Lots of good news for Obama, but the bad news for McCain is very bad.

Obama’s gains notwithstanding, a widespread loss of confidence in McCain appears to be the most significant factor in the race at this point. Many more voters express doubts about McCain’s judgment than about Obama’s: 41% see McCain as “having poor judgment,” while just 29% say that this trait describes Obama. Fewer voters also view McCain as inspiring than did so in mid-September (37% now, 43% then). By contrast, 71% of voters continue to think of Obama as inspiring.