obama should focus state of the union on economy, us voters tell

Peter Brown, Assistant Director,
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
(203) 535-6203
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations
Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026
FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 11, 2013
OBAMA SHOULD FOCUS STATE OF THE UNION ON ECONOMY,
U.S. VOTERS TELL QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY NATIONAL POLL;
PRESIDENT HANDLES ECONOMY BETTER THAN GOP, VOTERS SAY
President Barack Obama should focus on the economy in his State of the Union Address, 35
percent of American voters say in a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Another
20 percent say the federal deficit is the top priority, with 15 percent citing gun policy and 12
percent listing health care.
The U.S. economy is in a recession 53 percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac
(KWUIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. A total of 79 percent of voters describe the economy as
“not so good” or “poor” and only 34 percent say it’s getting better, while 28 percent say it’s
getting worse and 37 percent say it’s staying about the same.
By a 47 – 41 percent margin, American voters trust President Barack Obama more than
Republicans in Congress to handle the economy. Trust measures on other issues are:
44 percent trust Obama to handle the deficit, compared to 42 percent for Republicans;
48 – 40 percent trust Obama more on health care;
45 percent trust Obama on gun policy while 43 percent trust Republicans;
46 – 41 percent trust Obama more on immigration;
55 – 31 percent trust Obama more on the environment;
51 – 37 percent trust Obama more on foreign policy.
“It’s not a majority, but 35 percent of American voters want President Barack Obama to
focus on the economy in his State of the Union Address tomorrow night” said Peter Brown,
assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“Voters trust President Obama more than Congressional Republicans on the economy
and most other issues, but they are more closely divided on who would do a better job on the
deficit and on gun-control. And by 48 – 39 percent, voters trust Republicans in Congress more
than Obama to cut federal spending.”
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/February 11, 2013 – page 2
Congress should prevent the $1.2 trillion cuts in defense and domestic spending due to
take effect March 1, 43 percent of voters say, while 22 percent say let the cuts happen. Another
32 percent have no opinion.
A total of 66 percent of American voters say they are “very likely” or “somewhat likely”
to watch the State of the Union Address. That includes 46 percent of Republicans, 86 percent of
Democrats and 64 percent of independent voters. Women say they are more likely to watch than
men, 71 – 59 percent.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, selected to give the Republican response to the State of the
Union address, has a 27 – 15 percent favorability rating among American voters, with 57 percent
who don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.
“Let’s see if Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s supporting actor role Tuesday night moves the
needle on his favorability meter among voters,” Brown said.
From January 30 – February 4, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,772 registered voters
with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell
phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.
16. President Obama's State of the Union address is scheduled to take place on Tuesday
evening, February 12th. How likely is it you will watch the President's State of the Union
address that night, very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely or not at all likely?
Very likely
Smwht likely
Not very likely
Not likely at all
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
43%
23
9
24
1
21%
25
14
39
-
67%
19
5
8
-
39%
25
10
26
1
37%
22
11
29
1
48%
23
8
21
-
38%
23
11
27
1
65%
25
1
10
-
59%
18
7
16
-
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Very likely
Smwht likely
Not very likely
Not likely at all
DK/NA
Very likely
Smwht likely
Not very likely
Not likely at all
DK/NA
45%
24
12
19
-
35%
23
10
31
1
37%
23
12
26
1
40%
20
10
28
1
33%
24
12
31
1
43%
23
10
23
-
29%
24
13
33
1
42%
22
10
25
1
Mltry
HsHld
39%
17
11
32
1
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
48%
23
11
18
-
46%
22
8
23
1
34%
29
9
27
-
41%
23
9
27
1
40%
24
10
26
-
44%
21
12
23
-
36%
27
9
26
1
47%
21
9
23
-
51%
15
10
23
1
17. As President Obama prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, please tell me
which one of the following issues you are most interested in hearing him address: the
economy, the federal budget deficit, health care, gun policy, foreign policy, immigration,
or the environment?
Economy
Federal deficit
Health care
Gun policy
Foreign policy
Immigration
Environment
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
35%
20
12
15
5
4
3
6
32%
30
10
12
4
3
8
38%
12
16
18
4
6
4
3
35%
21
8
14
8
4
4
6
34%
24
8
14
6
4
3
7
36%
18
15
15
4
5
3
4
35%
23
11
14
5
3
3
6
43%
14
17
16
2
2
1
5
25%
11
13
16
9
15
7
4
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Economy
Federal deficit
Health care
Gun policy
Foreign policy
Immigration
Environment
DK/NA
Cont’d
39%
24
9
10
5
4
4
4
33%
22
12
16
5
3
2
6
36%
25
13
12
4
3
2
6
40%
22
10
15
6
3
1
4
33%
25
8
14
6
4
4
7
37%
20
14
14
4
3
2
4
35%
22
14
12
4
3
2
9
40%
23
9
15
6
3
1
3
Mltry
HsHld
33%
27
9
13
4
6
3
5
17. (cont’d) As President Obama prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, please
tell me which one of the following issues you are most interested in hearing him address:
the economy, the federal budget deficit, health care, gun policy, foreign policy,
immigration, or the environment?
Economy
Federal deficit
Health care
Gun policy
Foreign policy
Immigration
Environment
DK/NA
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
38%
22
9
10
6
5
4
6
33%
18
15
18
4
4
3
6
28%
13
14
26
7
3
3
5
33%
19
13
17
5
4
3
6
36%
19
9
16
6
4
3
7
37%
29
7
11
5
5
2
5
34%
22
8
18
6
4
2
5
36%
22
12
12
5
6
4
5
38%
20
14
9
4
3
3
9
18. Who do you trust to do a better job handling - the economy, President Obama or the
Republicans in Congress?
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
47%
41
12
6%
85
9
89%
7
5
41%
43
17
41%
47
12
52%
37
11
38%
50
12
87%
5
8
64%
20
16
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
47%
43
10
34%
53
12
33%
54
13
39%
52
9
34%
53
12
42%
47
11
20%
66
14
Mltry
HsHld
44%
45
11
34%
50
16
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
50%
38
12
52%
38
10
42%
41
17
46%
43
11
45%
44
11
40%
47
13
47%
44
9
49%
41
10
49%
39
12
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy, President Obama or the
Republicans in Congress? (* Low also 41% Jul 2010, Jun 2011)
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Feb 11
2013
Apr 20
2012
Feb 23
2012
Nov 22
2011
Nov 02
2011
OBAMA.........
High
Low
Nov 02 Oct 06
2011
2011*
47
41
12
43
43
15
46
41
13
44
41
15
48
39
12
48
39
12
41
43
16
19. Who do you trust to do a better job handling - the federal budget deficit,
President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
44%
42
15
6%
84
10
84%
9
8
36%
43
22
38%
47
15
49%
37
15
35%
51
15
86%
4
10
63%
21
16
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
43%
45
13
31%
54
16
29%
55
16
36%
52
12
31%
54
14
38%
47
15
17%
66
17
39%
47
14
Mltry
HsHld
35%
48
17
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
46%
39
15
49%
36
14
40%
36
24
42%
43
15
42%
43
15
36%
50
14
43%
43
13
46%
41
13
43%
44
13
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling the federal budget deficit,
President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? (*the budget deficit)
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Feb 11
2013
Feb 23
2012
Jun 09
2011
BIN LADEN DEATH
Post
Pre
May 05 May 05 Mar 3
2011*
2011*
2011*
44
42
15
44
46
10
39
46
15
42
44
14
42
46
11
43
46
11
20. Who do you trust to do a better job handling - health care, President Obama or the
Republicans in Congress?
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
48%
40
12
6%
85
9
89%
6
4
42%
39
19
42%
46
12
53%
35
13
39%
48
13
90%
3
7
65%
21
14
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
51%
39
10
33%
53
14
33%
55
13
41%
46
13
36%
52
12
42%
45
13
19%
67
13
45%
42
13
Mltry
HsHld
36%
50
14
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
54%
35
11
52%
36
12
46%
41
13
45%
42
13
46%
43
11
43%
46
11
48%
41
12
49%
39
13
48%
40
12
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care, President Obama or the
Republicans in Congress? (*Low also 42% Jan 2010 & Mar 2010))
President Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Feb 11
2013
Mar 03
2011
Nov 17
2010
Apr 21
2010
BETTER PRES...
High
Low
Jul 1
Apr 21
2009
2010*
48
40
12
46
43
12
44
45
10
42
39
19
53
33
14
42
39
19
23. Who do you trust to do a better job handling - the environment, President Obama or the
Republicans in Congress?
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
55%
31
14
21%
64
15
87%
6
6
52%
30
19
52%
34
14
58%
28
14
49%
36
15
82%
10
8
73%
15
12
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
60%
27
13
43%
41
16
42%
41
16
49%
35
16
46%
39
16
51%
34
14
29%
54
18
53%
32
15
Mltry
HsHld
45%
37
18
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
63%
24
13
55%
31
14
55%
31
14
52%
34
14
54%
33
13
60%
28
12
60%
29
11
56%
31
13
49%
32
19
24. Who do you trust to do a better job handling - foreign policy, President Obama or the
Republicans in Congress?
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
51%
37
12
8%
79
13
90%
6
3
47%
34
18
46%
42
12
55%
32
12
43%
44
13
84%
7
9
68%
22
10
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
53%
36
10
39%
47
14
39%
48
13
43%
46
10
40%
47
13
47%
40
13
27%
58
15
49%
40
12
Mltry
HsHld
42%
45
13
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
57%
33
10
56%
31
14
48%
36
16
48%
38
13
47%
43
10
50%
42
8
52%
39
9
52%
37
11
52%
33
14
25. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good,
not so good, or poor?
Excellent
Good
Not so good
Poor
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
1%
19
41
38
-
1%
3
32
64
-
2%
34
47
16
1
18
43
38
-
1%
19
41
39
-
1%
20
40
38
1
1%
16
38
44
1
4%
31
49
15
1
27
47
26
-
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Excellent
Good
Not so good
Poor
DK/NA
Excellent
Good
Not so good
Poor
DK/NA
22
43
35
1
1%
14
36
49
-
1%
15
35
49
1
16
39
44
-
1%
17
39
43
-
16
38
45
1
1%
8
31
58
1
Mltry
HsHld
19
39
41
-
1%
17
34
47
-
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
23
45
32
1
1%
20
40
38
-
22
45
33
-
1%
18
39
42
-
1%
18
40
41
-
21
42
36
-
1%
16
45
37
-
1%
20
39
40
-
1%
20
35
42
2
TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good,
not so good, or poor?
Excellent
Good
Not so good
Poor
DK/NA
Feb 11
2013
Jul 12
2012
Feb 23
2012
Oct 06
2011
Sep 01
2011
EXLNT+GOOD....
High
Low
Dec 10 Mar 04
2003
2009
1
19
41
38
-
1
13
45
41
1
1
13
43
43
1
6
38
55
-
4
35
61
-
3
37
42
16
1
3
28
68
-
26. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about
the same?
Better
Worse
The same
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
34%
28
37
1
10%
52
37
1
57%
7
35
1
33%
29
38
-
34%
32
34
-
35%
25
40
1
32%
33
35
-
49%
7
43
-
35%
17
45
3
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Better
Worse
The same
DK/NA
Better
Worse
The same
DK/NA
44%
24
32
-
26%
37
36
-
28%
37
34
-
31%
35
33
-
33%
35
32
-
31%
31
37
1
20%
49
31
-
Mltry
HsHld
35%
29
36
-
31%
35
33
1
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
46%
21
33
-
33%
26
40
-
29%
28
42
1
29%
31
39
1
32%
30
37
-
38%
28
34
-
30%
28
41
-
37%
27
35
-
37%
29
33
2
TREND: Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying
about the same? (* Low also 11% Sep 2011)
Better
Worse
The same
DK/NA
Feb 11
2013
Feb 23
2012
Oct 06
2011
Sep 01
2011
Jul 14
2011
BETTER........
High
Low
Jan 18 Oct 06
2011
2011*
34
28
37
1
35
26
38
1
11
44
44
1
11
49
39
1
23
32
43
2
36
20
43
2
11
44
44
1
27. Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now?
Yes
No
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
53%
42
5
74%
21
5
35%
60
5
53%
42
4
52%
43
5
54%
41
5
56%
39
5
35%
58
6
55%
43
2
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Yes
No
DK/NA
Yes
No
DK/NA
48%
48
3
60%
35
5
59%
36
5
61%
37
2
53%
42
4
59%
36
5
67%
27
6
55%
41
3
Mltry
HsHld
59%
36
5
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
46%
51
3
53%
40
7
58%
37
5
57%
38
5
56%
42
2
51%
48
1
57%
40
3
53%
42
5
47%
46
6
TREND: Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now?
Yes
No
DK/NA
Feb 11
2013
Apr 20
2012
Feb 23
2012
Oct 06
2011
Sep 01
2011
YES RECESSION
High
Low
Jun 22 Feb 11
2010
2013
53
42
5
68
27
5
66
30
4
77
20
3
76
20
4
79
18
3
53
42
5
28. Do you think the economy is beginning to recover or not?
Yes
No
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
53%
44
3
23%
75
2
81%
16
2
52%
45
3
51%
47
2
54%
42
3
48%
50
3
80%
16
3
63%
35
3
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Yes
No
DK/NA
Yes
No
DK/NA
58%
40
2
43%
55
3
43%
54
3
47%
51
2
47%
51
3
49%
49
3
33%
63
4
51%
48
2
Mltry
HsHld
46%
52
2
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
61%
37
2
54%
44
2
53%
45
2
49%
48
3
49%
48
3
54%
44
2
47%
50
3
54%
44
2
58%
38
4
TREND: Do you think the economy is beginning to recover or not? (*High also Jan 2011)
Yes
No
DK/NA
Feb 11
2013
Apr 20
2012
Feb 23
2012
Sep 01
2011
Jul 14
2011
YES RECOVER
High
Low
Feb 23 Sep 01
2012*
2011
53
44
3
53
43
4
54
43
3
28
68
4
45
52
3
54
43
3
28
68
4
29. As you may know, unless Congress acts, about $1.2 trillion in defense and domestic
spending would be cut from the federal budget on March 1st. Do you want these cuts to take
effect or not, or don't you have an opinion on that?
Yes/Cut spending
No/Don't cut
No opinion
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
22%
43
32
3
23%
46
28
3
17%
43
37
3
26%
44
28
2
28%
41
28
3
17%
46
35
2
23%
45
30
3
11%
44
43
3
20%
41
37
3
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Yes/Cut spending
No/Don't cut
No opinion
REFUSED
Yes/Cut spending
No/Don't cut
No opinion
REFUSED
25%
51
21
3
22%
41
34
2
21%
48
30
2
22%
45
30
4
30%
41
26
3
17%
48
33
2
23%
46
30
2
21%
46
30
3
Mltry
HsHld
27%
50
20
3
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
25%
50
22
3
16%
42
39
3
21%
35
42
2
21%
41
36
2
25%
47
27
1
33%
46
19
3
21%
44
32
3
25%
47
25
3
21%
43
34
2
30. Who do you trust to do a better job cutting federal spending, President Obama or the
Republicans in Congress?
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Wht
Blk
Hsp
39%
48
12
4%
88
8
74%
17
8
32%
50
18
32%
56
12
46%
41
13
32%
56
12
78%
13
8
53%
34
12
WHITE..............................................
COLLEGE DEG
BornAgnEv
Yes
No
Prot
Cath
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
Obama
Reps in Congress
DK/NA
38%
52
10
29%
57
13
28%
61
12
32%
59
9
27%
60
12
37%
51
12
18%
70
11
37%
52
11
Mltry
HsHld
28%
57
15
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
ANNUAL HSHOLD INC
<50K
50-100 >100K
AGE IN YRS..............
18-29 30-44 45-64 65+
40%
48
12
46%
42
12
39%
45
16
39%
48
13
36%
51
12
29%
59
12
38%
50
12
41%
47
12
39%
50
11

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