The approval rating of U.S. President Barack Obama has dropped significantly with the increase in gasoline prices, according to two separate opinion polls.
“In the new poll, 46 per cent approve of the way Mr. Obama is handling his job, while 50 per cent disapprove. That’s a mirror image of his 50 to 46 positive split in early February,” said the latest opinion poll released by The Washington Post-ABC News.
Obama poll rating “sinks to a new low” reported The New York Times-CBS News poll here on Monday, adding that the drop may be partially attributable to rising gas prices.
“Just 41 per cent of Americans approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing as President,” according to the poll, conducted from March 7 to 11.
Another 47 per cent disapprove of his performance, up from 41 per cent last month.
Mr. Obama’s approval rating was 50 per cent last month, said The New York Times-CBS news poll.
However, Gallup poll in its latest survey said that Obama’s approval rating has improved.
“Mr. Obama’s job approval rating was at 43 per cent as last week began. His rating improved to 48 per cent by mid-week before rising to 49 per cent over the weekend, suggesting that he was on the upswing even before Friday’s jobs report,” it said.
Gallup said Mr. Obama appears to have benefited from Americans’ significantly improved view of the national economy, including the positive jobs report released on Friday.
The American President’s weekly average job approval rating of 48 per cent is up from his 45 per cent average for the month of February.
“Mr. Obama’s approval rating dropped substantially in recent weeks, the poll found, with 41 per cent of respondents expressing approval of the job he is doing and 47 per cent saying they disapprove - a dangerous position for any incumbent seeking re-election,” The New York Times said.
Mr. Obama in an interview acknowledged that increase in gasoline prices is frustrating to his countrymen.
“Understandably people are frustrated when gas prices are going up, and there are things we can do, but they’re not going to result, provide results overnight,” Obama told the CBS Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA in an interview.
The American dependence on foreign oil under his administration has reduced, he said, adding that fuel efficiency standards for cars are being raised.
Though he is exploring other ways to reduce prices, Obama said the biggest contributor to the current high prices is rumours of war in the Middle East.
“Which is part of the reason I said a couple weeks ago let’s stop with the loose talk about war. Because a lot of what’s driving this is people’s concern and fear that there might be major disruptions in the Middle East oil markets,” Mr. Obama said.
The Washington Post said Mr. Obama’s drop in approval rating is particularly pronounced among low-income households that may be feeling the pinch of the higher gas prices - as well as increases in prices for groceries and some retail items - more than others.
“The decline in Obama’s approval rating has occurred as more attention has been made to prices at the gas pump and as Republican presidential candidates have sometimes tries to connect the price increases to the Obama administration’s approach to Iran. They have also been highlighting concerns about Iran’s nuclear program,” the daily said.
Keywords: Obama re-election, Obama ratings, U.S. polls
I did get a call,from CNN on a poll about three weeks ago. I did state I was an independent voter, when asked about Obama and my views. I gave some positives and some negatives, after the negatives they did not want to talk. Seems the news is biased.
On energy we do need all the above and oil is part of that mix, thus the pipeline is needed. By the way the electric car is not the answer just yet, research what it takes to make a battery for these energy savers. Lots more pollution than an gasoline engine.
We have a long way to go and the solar and wind just are not there yet.
Vote 2012 but not for Obama or Mitt. Both are toxic to the USA
I Can't believe how stupid some people in this country can be. President Obama has nothing to do with setting the gas prices or the raising and lowering of them. This must be a poll done by Fox "News". They were given talking points by the Republican party that are used to incite the ignorant people that watch the network.
@ Ivonne The Keystone pipeline is designed to transfer oil from Canada
to Gulf ports for export. It is not meant to be a tapline for
American use. Explain to me how oil designed to be shipped elsewhere
is supposed to lower our prices.
@ BS Kumar. Obama is NOT drumming up the war option with Iran. He is trying to downplay that. Republican politicians, many of whom benefit from the windfall profits of oil companies, are agitating for war, thus increasing fears in investor speculating and therefore driving up prices all so the GOP candidates can blame Obama.
Ivonne the keystone oil pipeline project would not benefit America one
bit if I am not mistaking, it only benefits Canada trading with Mexico
and ect! Vote Obama2012
I do not beleive Obama is to fully blame for our current gas prices. Both parties are to blame for three decades of inactivity. No new refieneries in decades, No incentives to switch to NG, reduced domestic oil production, No controls on speculation. All of them are to blame. Obama is just the latest good idea man who has uterly failed to make any attempt to improve life for us. He is a joke and needs to go, we need to approve the keystone pipeline, and put pricing caps on oil speculation if it is out of % of reality.
Obama has nothing to do with the price of gas in this country. It is the World Market that controls it. American investors buy the oil, then manipulate the price. Americans live under Corporate Authority, just like the puppets in Washington. So stop fooling yourselves with these polls. Poll takers should ask more questions about how we can change things in Washington with voting technology. New candidates, and new promises, year after year, we are disappointed. At this point it is futile to even argue about which candidate can solve our oil worries. Instead, Americans should rethink this so-called democracy. This is no longer a government, by the People, and for the People. It's People electing to sell their votes to Corporations.
Somebody tell me why is he MR. Obama instead of President OBAMA? Seriously you have that little respect...you have to say the Job MR. Obama is doing as President; Why not just say The Job President Obama is doing?
Obama's lack of approval rating is because he hasn't done what he said he would do. He rammed through obamacare, supposedly to save money but it actually increases costs, adding to the deficit. His stimulus package was to get unemployment below 8% and it is not. He was to have a "laser beam focus on jobs" and he didn't. Fast and Furious. Solyndra. 15 trillion-dollar deficit. Lack of transparency. Divisive politics. The list goes on and on with obama failures.
All this should not be a surprise to intelligent people. obama has not had a real job in his life, so why would we expect results from a do-nothing? He has no idea what he is doing, so he throws money around like a drunken sailor on his first liberty.
All obama lovers have to admit sooner or later that the continual blaming of Bush and the overuse of "unprecedented" has long been tiresome and invalid. Bush hasn't been president since 2009, so the blame game should long be over. Time for real change and hope - someone else.
Racist Americans always lived in denial of their hate because of their
ignorant.Bush administration told the biggest lie in our life
time.Because of that lie many innocent people were killed.We the
people were the victim of a dictator ship called the republican
conservative party.Yet the republicans praise Bush for his barbarian
act.The republican call Bush a Christian.Think about that for a
second.As a real Christian you live by the doctrine of Jesus Christ
not hate and prejudice.These republicans are no more than a evil
cult.The only standard they have is deceive,counterfeit faith,violence
rhetoric,and anger.Gas price come and go.If the republicans win
America and the world will lose.
President Obama was elected president at a time when the entire world was in deep economic recession.America being the strongest economy and the hub of the global economy,its citizens are bound to feel the pintch of the economic crisis and not to put the blame squarely on Obama. I personally admire his sincerity, steadfastness selfless service to america. Give him a second chance.
I would like to comment on two things, why does the social media take these
polls across America and not say how many people partook in the vote? Not
once is there mention to how many people voted; whether it's an online poll
limited to the number of people on a specific website or where one must call a
hotline to cast a vote. I'd simply love to know how many Americans became a
statistic and voted, thank you! I for one, did not partake in this poll so don't
include my vote in your "American poll." Social media, when will you stop hiding the truth from the American people? And two, Kony 2012 is a great idea, poorly excecuted! I'm sorry but the ONLY reason the U.S. will send troops to Uganda is to gain some oil out of it! Sad, but true! Mr. Obama we tried to take over, change, and control another country and it does not work! Invisible Children used 32% of donated money to help their cause. The rest of the money is for salaries and expenses including airfare, logding, food, marketing!
Rating are not on the price of GAS
Rating are on the color of Skin Omaba gave us hope.
I remember what it was like with a GOP in the white house.
The GOP don't have enough money to buy my VOTE.
More than 30 pices of Sliver. You won't make GOD mad
by doing right. Don't sell your brain use it.
Candice, Cindy and Anne, I agree with you totally. Finally there are people out here who have my same sentiments. No one has ever called me or my family and friends or my co-workers regarding these polls and I am referring to family and friends all around the country. President Obama has no control over the gas prices and I'm not going to play there gas game. I will catch the bus, ride a bike or don't go at all!!
Obama should be blamed for every penny of gas increase at the pump. That he killed the keystone oil pipeline project while campaigning that he is for oil and gas independence in this country seems a bit disingenuous to me. His energy secretary publicly stated that the Obama administration is OK with higher gas prices which leads us to another well worn conclusion that higher gas prices is part of this presidents energy policy because higher gas prices will push people to buy the worthless "green" cars that Obama is pushing off on this country. The $110,000 Frisker "Karma" green car, developed with US taxpayers dollars in a foreign country couldn't even get out of the starting gate when Consumer Reports tried to test drive this lemon of a car. It failed to start numerous times and had to be towed back to where it came from. Obama should be impeached and sent to prison for plundering US dollars and the wealth of future generations for wasting our money.
I supported Pres Obama when he decided to run for President and I support him now as he prepares to run again. He is not responsible for fuel price hikes that have more to do with traders and speculators than to the fact that there is enough fuel supplies in the world to go around. There is no fuel shortage other than what is perceived by people who do not know better.
I am an Indian, but would vouch anyday for the President Mr. Obama. I am glad that Americans are reading this newpaper and commenting. Looks like he is very much on his way back to become the President again.
By drumming up the war option against Iran, Obama has contributed to rising oil prices, not only in the USA. But the latter should be a really narrow reason to approve of his leadership, while the former can!
I've never gotten a call either. I know it's not Obama's fault; the Republicans like to spread fear, fear about everything except global warming. I'm not a Democrate, I'm just anti-Republican. They start out as if they have values then they veer waaaaayyy off track and sometimes into outerspace as in Newt's case. I try to conserve on gas so I don't give the greedy any more of my money than I have to. I realize some of the greedy are the speculators and I wish they'd do away with them. Best of luck to all and God bless.
The American public is very dumb. I lived through two gas shortages, where I had to get up at the crack of dawn to get in line for gas -- for my VW Bug. Not a gas hog SUV or pickup truck, that is the norm for spoiled Americans these days. I economize by NOT DRIVING. It's my way of protesting the greed of the oil producers, etc. What a freaking bunch of cry babies we have in America these days. If you blame Obama, you are a liar and a traitor.
We were stupid enough to give Bush 4 more so I'm for giving Obama the same. I simply do NOT trust Romney!
This goes to show how fickle we as Americans are. I still support my
President. Who does these polls anyway? I have never gotten a call
from these pollsters. Guess, I am not considered an American by some.
God bless, America!
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