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Americans' pessimism on economy growing, poll shows
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Leroy N. Soetoro
May 14, 2012, 2:01:08 PM5/14/12
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http://www.freep.com/article/20120510/NEWS07/120510075/Americans-
pessimism-on-economy-growing-poll-shows
Americans are growing more pessimistic about the economy and handling it
remains President Barack Obama's weak spot and biggest challenge in his
bid for a second term, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
And the gloomier outlook extends across party lines, including a steep
decline in the share of Democrats who call the economy "good," down from
48 percent in February to just 31% now.
Almost two-thirds of Americans — 65% — disapprove of Obama's handling of
gas prices, up from 58% in February. Nearly half, 44%, "strongly
disapprove." And just 30% said they approve, down from 39 percent in
February.
These findings come despite a steady decline in gas prices in recent weeks
after a surge earlier in the year. The national average for a gallon of
gasoline stood at $3.75, down from a 2012 peak of $3.94 on April 1.
U.S. presidents have limited ability to affect gas prices, which are
determined in international markets. However, the party out of power
always blames whoever is president at the time for high gas prices, as
Republican Mitt Romney is doing now and as Democrat Obama did in 2008 when
George W. Bush sat in the Oval Office.
Of all the issues covered by the poll, Obama's ratings on gas prices were
his worst.
The public's views tilt negative on his handling of the overall economy,
52% disapprove while 46% approve. In February, Americans were about evenly
divided on his handling of the issue.
The economy is the No. 1 issue in the presidential race, thanks to the
deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression and one of the
shallowest-ever recoveries.
While the recession officially ended in summer 2009, unemployment remains
stubbornly high, at 8.1% in April. Some 12.5 million Americans are out of
work.
The increasing skepticism toward the recovery tracks a weakening overall
economy as measured by the gross domestic product, and matches economic
growth downgrades by many economic forecasters.
Against this background, the weak economy looms as a huge liability for
Obama, and any drop in public confidence in his ability to deal with it
can threaten his re-election prospects. Although Obama held broad
advantages over Romney on handling social issues and protecting the
country, when it came to the economy about the same percentage said they
trust Romney to handle it as trust Obama.
Mindful of Obama's vulnerability, Romney focuses frequently on the
economy, suggesting that his business background makes him the candidate
who can create jobs. Like most Republicans, he blames Obama's policies for
making the economy worse.
Obama acknowledges that times remain hard for many, but says conditions
are slowly improving. He suggests the best chance for full recovery is if
voters stick with him.
Heather Beckman, 29, of Lantana, Fla., is a Democrat who said she's
undecided about her vote but leaned to Obama. She believes the president
can put the economy back on track, but not by himself. "At some point, the
Republicans and Democrats have to come together to turn the economy
around. As well as the rest of the country."
However, Republican Roni Lovell, 68, of Edgewood, Wash., said Romney's the
one to help the economy turn the corner. "He has helped some really big
companies come out of their financial woes," said the retired school
administrator. "Obama has proved he can't do it and it's time someone else
gives it a try."
The poll shows that optimism on an economic recovery earlier this year has
all but stalled. The share of Americans describing the economy as "good"
dropped 10 points since February, to 20%. Two-thirds see the economy as
"poor" and about one in seven say it's somewhere in between. And just 22%
say the economy got better in the past month, down from 28% saying so in
February.
Democrats remain more optimistic about the economy in the coming year than
do independents and Republicans, but still, the percentage that is hopeful
for improvement in the next year dipped 10 points since February.
Fewer than one in three expect their household's economic fortunes to
improve in the coming year, down from 37% in February. Eighteen percent
see their finances as worsening, up from 11% in February.
And 35% expect the unemployment rate, which has been inching down for
months, to start going back up. Thirty percent thought that in February.
Independents are closer to Republicans than Democrats on that issue, with
only 18% of independents and Republicans optimistic that the jobless rate
will improve, while 40% of Democrats expect it to.
For now, Obama remains popular. His approval rating stands at 53%. But a
stalling recovery could cause it to slide.
The AP-GfK poll was conducted May 3-7 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and
Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cell phone interviews
with 1,004 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or
minus 3.9 percentage points.
Associated Press writer Stacy A. Anderson and News Survey Specialist
Dennis Junius contributed this report.
Comments:
Harry Kuheim · Top commenter
" If I haven't got this thing turned around in 3 and 1/2 years then it
will be a one term prosition", Barack Husein Obama....
Reply · · about an hour ago
Jesse Jones · Pike High School
We don't need a poll to tell us what our lives are like. Time for a
change.
Reply · · 15 minutes ago
--
Obama's black racist USAG appointee.
Eric Holder, racist black United States Attorney General drops voter
intimidation charges against the Black Panthers, "You are about to be
ruled by the black man, cracker!"
Eric Holder, prejudiced black United States Attorney General settles the
hate crime debate, "Whites Not Protected by Hate Crime Laws."
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact, to
former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel of New
York's million dollar tax evasion.
Barack Obama and Eric Holder, committed treason by knowingly and
deliberately arming enemies of the United States of America through
Operation Fast and Furious. Complicit in the murder of Federal employees
during the execution of their duties.
--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to ne...@netfront.net ---
pessimism-on-economy-growing-poll-shows
Americans are growing more pessimistic about the economy and handling it
remains President Barack Obama's weak spot and biggest challenge in his
bid for a second term, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
And the gloomier outlook extends across party lines, including a steep
decline in the share of Democrats who call the economy "good," down from
48 percent in February to just 31% now.
Almost two-thirds of Americans — 65% — disapprove of Obama's handling of
gas prices, up from 58% in February. Nearly half, 44%, "strongly
disapprove." And just 30% said they approve, down from 39 percent in
February.
These findings come despite a steady decline in gas prices in recent weeks
after a surge earlier in the year. The national average for a gallon of
gasoline stood at $3.75, down from a 2012 peak of $3.94 on April 1.
U.S. presidents have limited ability to affect gas prices, which are
determined in international markets. However, the party out of power
always blames whoever is president at the time for high gas prices, as
Republican Mitt Romney is doing now and as Democrat Obama did in 2008 when
George W. Bush sat in the Oval Office.
Of all the issues covered by the poll, Obama's ratings on gas prices were
his worst.
The public's views tilt negative on his handling of the overall economy,
52% disapprove while 46% approve. In February, Americans were about evenly
divided on his handling of the issue.
The economy is the No. 1 issue in the presidential race, thanks to the
deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression and one of the
shallowest-ever recoveries.
While the recession officially ended in summer 2009, unemployment remains
stubbornly high, at 8.1% in April. Some 12.5 million Americans are out of
work.
The increasing skepticism toward the recovery tracks a weakening overall
economy as measured by the gross domestic product, and matches economic
growth downgrades by many economic forecasters.
Against this background, the weak economy looms as a huge liability for
Obama, and any drop in public confidence in his ability to deal with it
can threaten his re-election prospects. Although Obama held broad
advantages over Romney on handling social issues and protecting the
country, when it came to the economy about the same percentage said they
trust Romney to handle it as trust Obama.
Mindful of Obama's vulnerability, Romney focuses frequently on the
economy, suggesting that his business background makes him the candidate
who can create jobs. Like most Republicans, he blames Obama's policies for
making the economy worse.
Obama acknowledges that times remain hard for many, but says conditions
are slowly improving. He suggests the best chance for full recovery is if
voters stick with him.
Heather Beckman, 29, of Lantana, Fla., is a Democrat who said she's
undecided about her vote but leaned to Obama. She believes the president
can put the economy back on track, but not by himself. "At some point, the
Republicans and Democrats have to come together to turn the economy
around. As well as the rest of the country."
However, Republican Roni Lovell, 68, of Edgewood, Wash., said Romney's the
one to help the economy turn the corner. "He has helped some really big
companies come out of their financial woes," said the retired school
administrator. "Obama has proved he can't do it and it's time someone else
gives it a try."
The poll shows that optimism on an economic recovery earlier this year has
all but stalled. The share of Americans describing the economy as "good"
dropped 10 points since February, to 20%. Two-thirds see the economy as
"poor" and about one in seven say it's somewhere in between. And just 22%
say the economy got better in the past month, down from 28% saying so in
February.
Democrats remain more optimistic about the economy in the coming year than
do independents and Republicans, but still, the percentage that is hopeful
for improvement in the next year dipped 10 points since February.
Fewer than one in three expect their household's economic fortunes to
improve in the coming year, down from 37% in February. Eighteen percent
see their finances as worsening, up from 11% in February.
And 35% expect the unemployment rate, which has been inching down for
months, to start going back up. Thirty percent thought that in February.
Independents are closer to Republicans than Democrats on that issue, with
only 18% of independents and Republicans optimistic that the jobless rate
will improve, while 40% of Democrats expect it to.
For now, Obama remains popular. His approval rating stands at 53%. But a
stalling recovery could cause it to slide.
The AP-GfK poll was conducted May 3-7 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and
Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cell phone interviews
with 1,004 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or
minus 3.9 percentage points.
Associated Press writer Stacy A. Anderson and News Survey Specialist
Dennis Junius contributed this report.
Comments:
Harry Kuheim · Top commenter
" If I haven't got this thing turned around in 3 and 1/2 years then it
will be a one term prosition", Barack Husein Obama....
Reply · · about an hour ago
Jesse Jones · Pike High School
We don't need a poll to tell us what our lives are like. Time for a
change.
Reply · · 15 minutes ago
--
Obama's black racist USAG appointee.
Eric Holder, racist black United States Attorney General drops voter
intimidation charges against the Black Panthers, "You are about to be
ruled by the black man, cracker!"
Eric Holder, prejudiced black United States Attorney General settles the
hate crime debate, "Whites Not Protected by Hate Crime Laws."
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact, to
former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel of New
York's million dollar tax evasion.
Barack Obama and Eric Holder, committed treason by knowingly and
deliberately arming enemies of the United States of America through
Operation Fast and Furious. Complicit in the murder of Federal employees
during the execution of their duties.
--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to ne...@netfront.net ---
abelincoln
May 15, 2012, 10:30:13 AM5/15/12
to
In article <XnsA05370135D...@202.177.16.121>
Popular? This piece of shit ain't popular with nobody but
socialists and Muslims.
socialists and Muslims.
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