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Majority disapprove of Obama's handling of oil spill, but BP blame more
A majority of Americans disapprove of the way President Barack Obama
has handled the Gulf oil spill, but have harsher views toward BP.
51 percent of Americans said in a new CNN/Opinion Research poll released Monday
that they disapprove of the president's handling of the crisis, but 76
percent say they disapprove of the way BP has handled the oil spill.
46
percent approve of the way the president has handled the situation,
while 24 percent approve of BP, the oil company that leased the oil rig
on which an explosion triggered pipeline leaks in the Gulf of Mexico,
near the coast of Louisiana.
The president and BP have faced public pressure over their response to the environmental catastrophe. The administration rejected some suggestions on Monday, though, that the federal government take over efforts to manage the leaks from BP. The leaks are continuing a month after they were first triggered.
A
group of senators traveled with Cabinet officials to survey the damage
in Louisiana Monday afternoon. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin
(D-Ill.) needled BP for its handling of cleanup efforts.
83
percent of those surveyed said the potential environmental damage from
the spill was "somewhat" or "very" serious, underscoring the political
headwinds behind the spill.
The poll, conducted May 21-23, has a 3 percent margin of error.
