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POLL: Public supports Obama; mixed on interrogation issues
04/26/09 05:28 AM ET
A Washington Post/ABC News poll released today shows strong support for President Obama as his first 100 days come to a close. But the public is evenly split on Obama's release of interrogation memos and whether to investigate potential abuses.
69% of respondents approve of the job Obama is doing so far. 58% approve of his handling of the economy, and 71% approve of his Iraq policy
Americans are becoming more optimistic as well. 50% of respondents believe the country is on the right direction, compared to 48% who believe it's going in the wrong track. This is the first time since April 2003 that the WaPo/ABC poll has found more Americans optimistic than pessimistic.
But on issues of interrogation policy, Americans are split and show a partisan divide.
55% of Americans approve of Obama's decision to release Bush-era interrogation memos, with 44% disapproving. But the parties are diametrically opposed to each other on this issue: three-quarters of Democrats approve of the release, while 74% of Republicans oppose it. (Independents support the decisions 50%-46%).
Half of Americans (49%) believe America should never engage in torture, with a statistically identical 48% answering we should consider it in some instances.
51% believe there should be an investigation into past interrogation policy, with 47% dissenting. This question again reveals a partisan divide: about 70% of Democrats favor investigating, and about 70% of Republicans oppose it.
When it comes to the political climate in Washington, just 37% believe Obama has reduced partisanship. A similar portion of Americans (34%) said the same thing about President Bush at this point in his first term.
Finally, Congressional Democrats fare better than their Republican counterparts. 45% of Americans approve of the job Democrats are doing, while just 30% say the same of Republicans.
69% of respondents approve of the job Obama is doing so far. 58% approve of his handling of the economy, and 71% approve of his Iraq policy
Americans are becoming more optimistic as well. 50% of respondents believe the country is on the right direction, compared to 48% who believe it's going in the wrong track. This is the first time since April 2003 that the WaPo/ABC poll has found more Americans optimistic than pessimistic.
But on issues of interrogation policy, Americans are split and show a partisan divide.
55% of Americans approve of Obama's decision to release Bush-era interrogation memos, with 44% disapproving. But the parties are diametrically opposed to each other on this issue: three-quarters of Democrats approve of the release, while 74% of Republicans oppose it. (Independents support the decisions 50%-46%).
Half of Americans (49%) believe America should never engage in torture, with a statistically identical 48% answering we should consider it in some instances.
51% believe there should be an investigation into past interrogation policy, with 47% dissenting. This question again reveals a partisan divide: about 70% of Democrats favor investigating, and about 70% of Republicans oppose it.
When it comes to the political climate in Washington, just 37% believe Obama has reduced partisanship. A similar portion of Americans (34%) said the same thing about President Bush at this point in his first term.
Finally, Congressional Democrats fare better than their Republican counterparts. 45% of Americans approve of the job Democrats are doing, while just 30% say the same of Republicans.
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