Diageo/Hotline Poll: Con-fidence Air
As he embarks on his first overseas trip, Pres. Obama continues to enjoy strong job and personal ratings back home, according a new Diageo/Hotline poll. The survey, conducted 3/26-29, also shows a record number of U.S. RVs are concerned about the economy, while a majority are confident in the new admin.'s economic agenda.
Although both remain considerably high, Obama's job approval and personal favorability ratings each dropped 4% since last month's poll. Approximately three in five RVs, 63%, approve of Obama's handling of his job as POTUS, down from 67% in the survey conducted 2/28-3/2. Similarly, Obama's fav dropped to 64% from 68% in the previous poll. Over the same period, Obama's job disapproval rose 4% and unfav increased 3%.
What's more, a record number of respondents in the Diageo/Hotline poll now feel things in the U.S. are generally going in the right direction. Nearly two-fifths of RVs, 39%, feel positively about the direction of the U.S., up from 32% on 3/2. The previous high in the poll's four-year history was 38% in 2/05. Nearly half of RVs, 49%, feel things in the U.S. are seriously off on the wrong track -- the first time the figure has ever been less than 50%.
This newfound optimism mirrors the record number of RVs concerned about the economy combined with respondents' steadfast confidence in the economic policies of the Obama Admin. An all-time high 85% now feel the economy is the most important issue facing the U.S., up 15% in just one month. At the same time, 61% are confident Obama and his team of economic advisors will be successful in turning around the economy, and 57% are confident the economic stimulus package will do so.
Split sampling shows 51% have confidence Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner will be successful in turning around the economy -- 10% less than Obama, though still a majority. Another 39% are not confident Geithner will be successful. For all the criticism he's received since taking office, Geithner's fav/unfav of 37%/30% makes him the only official tested besides Obama and VP Biden with a net-positive rating.
The Diageo/Hotline poll, conducted 3/26-29 by FD, surveyed 800 U.S. RVs and has margin of error +/- 3.5%.
(MATTHEW GOTTLIEB)