The Week in Polls: July 28
Americans’ views on politics and the economy.
1 / 7
Raising the Debt Ceiling - The more Washington lawmakers disagree about how to raise the debt ceiling, the more the public wants them to reach a compromise. A new Pew Research Center survey found that 68 percent of Americans say that lawmakers who agree that the debt ceiling must be raised should be willing to compromise even if they don't like the ultimate deal. The survey also found that 56 percent believe that President Obama and Republicans will make a deal before the Aug. 2 deadline.(Photo: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
2 / 7
Who's to Blame for the Bad Economy? - A Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that more Americans continue to blame the bad economy on former President George W. Bush. Fifty-seven percent believe that the Bush administration's actions made the economy worse. Just 29 percent, however, said that President Obama's policies have improved the economy, down from 40 percent in October. That decrease can be attributed mostly to African-Americans, 54 percent of whom say Obama has made the economy better, down from 77 percent last October.
3 / 7
Job Creation - Americans are displeased with the way both President Obama and congressional Republicans have dealt--or not dealt with, as the case may be--with their number one priority: jobs. In a new Washington Post-ABC poll, 52 percent say they disapprove of Obama's performance on jobs. Republicans fared even worse, with 65 percent saying they disapprove of their performance. In addition, only 50 percent of Republicans approve of the way their congressional representatives have dealt with the matter, versus 69 percent of Democrats who say they approve of Obama's performance.(Photo: AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
4 / 7
Presidents and Religion - A majority of Americans at 56 percent believe it's important that presidential candidates have strong religious beliefs, a Public Religion Research Institute/Religious News Service has found. Interestingly, the two groups who most firmly believe this, 73 percent of white evangelicals and 74 percent of ethnic minority Christians, don't actually know what religions many politicians practice. Only 44 percent of white evangelicals and 21 percent of ethnic minority Christians know that Mitt Romney is a Mormon and only one in three Americans can correctly state that President Obama is a Christian, not a Muslim.(Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
5 / 7
GOP Makes Gains With White Voters - Democrats' electorate edge with white voters has narrowed significantly since the 2008 presidential election and the Republican Party has made big gains among white voters, particularly low-income and young adults. The seven-point advantage that Democrats had among whites under age 30 in 2008 has turned into an 11-point edge for the GOP, a Pew Research Center survey has found. In addition, the two-point advantage that Republicans had among white voters overall in 2008 has grown to 13 points. Black and Latino voters continue to largely support the Democratic Party.(Photo: AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 7
Obama's Weekly Job Approval Rating - The most recent job approval rating for President Obama averaged 43 percent for the week of July 18-24, which ties with his administration's lowest weekly average. In addition, a Gallup poll found that that rating was lower than President Bill Clinton's was in the fall of 1995 when he was engaged in a similar budget dispute with then House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) that led to a federal government shutdown. In November and December of that year, Clinton's monthly job approval average was 53 percent and 51 percent, respectively.(Photo: Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)