1

CBS NEWS POLL

For release: Wednesday, August 6, 2014
6:30 PM EDT

Foreign Policy Concerns, the President, and the Midterm Elections
July 29-August 4, 2014

In the ongoing disputes between Israel and the Palestinians, most Americans
sympathize with Israel (54%), though many (47%) blame both sides for the recent
outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas.

56% of Americans now view Russia as either an enemy (22%) or unfriendly (34%) to the
U.S. Few Americans think new sanctions against Russia will be very effective in curbing
that countrys actions in Ukraine.

President Obamas approval rating on foreign policy remains low (36%) and few approve
of his handling of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians (33%) or relations with
Russia (38%). His overall job approval is 41% - nearly the same as last month.

50% of Americans think the President has strong qualities of leadership, though 47%
think he does not.

54% of Americans disapprove of the lawsuit filed against the President by House
Republicans, although views are split along partisan lines.

Israel and Hamas

After four weeks of fighting in the Gaza Strip, most Americans side with Israel in their ongoing
disputes with the Palestinians. 54% of Americans say they sympathize more with Israel, while
just 16% sympathize more with the Palestinians.

Israel and the Palestinians: Who Do You Sympathize With More?
Now 8/2002
Israel 54% 47%
Palestinians 16 12
Both/Neither (vol.) 17 20

But Americans dont necessarily think the U.S. should get involved. 59% of Americans think the
U.S. does not have a responsibility to try to resolve the conflict between Israel and the
Palestinians. A decade ago, Americans were more divided when it came to the U.S.s
responsibility in this matter.

Does the U.S. Have a Responsibility for
Solving the Israel-Palestinian Conflict?
Total 8/2002
Yes 35% 47%
No 59 46


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As for the most recent outbreak of violence, more Americans blame Hamas than Israel for the
recent fighting that has erupted. 34% think Hamas is most to blame, while just 6% lay most of
the blame on Israel. However, even more 47% - think both sides are equally to blame.

Most Republicans (54%) lay the blame on Hamas, while Democrats and independents are more
likely to blame both sides equally.

Who is Most to Blame for the Fighting Between Israel and Hamas?
Total Reps Dems Inds
Hamas 34% 54% 24% 32%
Israel 6 2 10 6
Both equally 47 35 55 48

The Conflict between Russia and Ukraine

Meanwhile, the U.S. has taken diplomatic action against Russia in the wake of the downing of a
Malaysian Airlines passenger plane last month by Russian separatists in Ukraine. The U.S. has
joined the European Union in enacting further economic sanctions against Russia, though most
Americans are skeptical that these sanctions will have much effect. Just 7% think these
sanctions will be very effective in changing Russias actions in Ukraine, while 31% think they will
be somewhat effective. Most think sanctions will be either not very (31%) or not at all (23%)
effective.

Sanctions Against Russia Will Be
Total Reps Dems Inds
Very effective 7% 6% 10% 6%
Somewhat effective 31 26 46 25
Not very effective 31 36 24 33
Not at all effective 23 26 13 26

Americans continue to view Russia cautiously. Today, 36% of Americans think of Russia as
either an ally or friendly to the U.S. -- down from 42% in March. 56% now see Russia as either
unfriendly or an enemy. As recently as 2007, 68% viewed Russia as either friendly (58%) or as
an ally (10%).

Do You Consider Russia?
Now 3/2014 6/2007 2/2003
An ally 7% 7% 10% 20%
Friendly, but not an ally 29 35 58 60

Total Friendly 36% 42% 68% 80%

Unfriendly, not enemy 34 33 18 8
An enemy 22 18 6 4

Total Not Friendly 56 51 24 12






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Assessing the Presidents Job Performance

Americans are critical of how President Obama has been responding to these two military
conflicts. The President receives net negative ratings for his handling of both Russia and the
fighting in Gaza, as well as his handling of foreign policy overall.


President Obamas Ratings on Foreign Policy
Approve Disapprove
Overall foreign policy 36% 48

Relations with Russia 38% 44
Situation between Israel and Palestinians 33% 50

The Presidents approval ratings on other key issues remain more negative than positive. 40%
of Americans approve and 54% disapprove of how Mr. Obama is handling the economy, only
slightly better than the 36% who approve of his handling of foreign policy. Just 31% of
Americans approve of how President Obama is handling immigration an all-time low for his
presidency.

President Obamas Job Ratings on the Issues
------------- Now -------------- ----------- June ---------------
Approve Disapprove Approve Disapprove
Economy 40% 54 41% 54
Foreign policy 36% 48 36% 58
Immigration 31% 57 35% 56


Overall, President Obama continues to hold a negative job approval rating. 41% of Americans
approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing as President while 50% disapprove, numbers that have
changed little since earlier in the year.

President Obamas Job Rating
Now 6/2014 2/2014 1/2014 12/2013
Approve 41% 40% 41% 46% 42%
Disapprove 50 54 51 47 50

President Obama: Leadership and Priorities

Americans are divided as to whether or not President Obama is a strong leader: 50% think he
has strong qualities of leadership, while 47% think he does not. Positive assessment of the
President on this measure has declined gradually over the course of his presidency.

Does Barack Obama Have Strong Qualities of Leadership?
Now 3/2014 9/2013 9/2011 6/2010 8/2009
Yes 50% 53% 58% 57% 62% 73%
No 47 45 39 39 35 25

More specifically, though 52% have at least some confidence in President Obamas ability to
handle an international crisis, just 25% say they have a lot of confidence down 14 percentage
points from last September, but similar to views in March.

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Confidence in Obamas Handling of an International Crisis
Now 3/2014 9/2012
A lot 25% 28% 39%
Some 27 25 26
A little 20 18 13
None 27 27 21

Most Americans also dont think the President shares their priorities: 38% think he does, while
56% think he does not. These percentages have changed little since December.

Does Barack Obama Share Your Priorities for the Country?
Now 12/2013 1/2012 1/2011 7/2010 7/2009
Yes 38% 38% 44% 42% 48% 62%
No 56 58 50 52 48 31

Despite their reservations about the President, more Americans disapprove (54%) than approve
(37%) of the lawsuit against President Obama authorized by Republicans in the House of
Representatives, which charges that the President exceeded his authority when he delayed a
provision of the 2010 health care law.

Not surprisingly, there are partisan differences. Two in three Republicans approve of the
lawsuit, while four in five Democrats disapprove. Just over half of independents disapprove.

House Lawsuit Against Obama
All Reps Dems Inds
Approve 37% 66% 15% 36%
Disapprove 54 24 80 53
Dont know 9 10 5 12

Views of the Parties

Americans views of both political parties are negative and nearly match historic lows for this
poll. Just 29% of Americans have a favorable view of the Republican Party, down four points
from May and just one point above the lowest favorability rating for that party recorded in this
poll (in June, 2009). While more - 41% - have a positive impression of the Democratic Party,
this percentage is also just one point above the all-time low for the Democratic Party, reached in
November 1994.

Views of the Political Parties
------- Republican Party ------ ------- Democratic Party ------
Now 5/2014 6/2009 Now 5/2014 9/1994
Favorable 29% 33% 28% 41% 43% 40%
Not favorable 62 58 58 50 50 52

National security is a particular strength for the Republican Party; 46% of Americans say the
Republican Party will do a better job on that issue, compared to just 33% who choose the
Democrats. Democrats lead as the party that better shares Americans values, and they have a
slight edge on immigration. Americans are divided as to which party would do a better job
handling the economy.



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Issues: Which Party Will Do a Better Job On?
Republican Democratic
National security 46% 33
The economy 41% 42
Immigration 38% 41
Sharing your values 38% 45

The Midterm Elections

If the election were held today, the results would look much as they did in June, with Democrats
holding a slight edge. But among those who are more enthusiastic than usual about voting,
Republicans have a lead.

Generic Ballot: 2014 Congressional Vote
(Among registered voters)
More enthusiastic
Now 6/2014 about voting
Republican 37% 39% 47%
Democrat 41 42 40
Depends/Not sure 17 16 12

And just over a third of voters say they are more enthusiastic than usual about voting in
November.

Enthusiasm about Voting in November
(Among registered voters)
Total Reps Dems Inds
More 36% 43% 42% 28%
Less 49 43 49 53
The same 12 14 8 14

This years election campaigns have yet to capture the attention of many voters. Just a quarter
of voters are currently paying a lot of attention to the campaign.

Attention to the Campaign
(Among registered voters)
A lot 25%
Some 39
Not much 21
None 14

Congress

While Americans are critical of the President, their view of Congress remains even more dismal:
just 15% approve of the job they are doing, while 78% disapprove. Large majorities of
Republicans (71%), Democrats (82%), and independents (80%) disapprove of how Congress is
handling its job.

Job Rating of Congress
Now 6/2014 5/2014 1/2014 10/2013
Approve 15% 14% 12% 11% 9%
Disapprove 78 78 80 82 85
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The Direction of the Country

Meanwhile, overall impressions of where the country is headed have grown more negative.
Just 25% think the country is headed in the right direction; down five points from May and the

lowest rating since October 2013. 67% think the country is off on the wrong track, including
most Republicans (89%) and independents (68%), and a plurality of Democrats (47%).

Direction of the Country
Now 5/2014 2/2014 1/2014 10/2013
Right direction 25% 30% 32% 33% 23%
Wrong track 67 62 63 61 72

The Economy

The national economy remains the most important issue to Americans: 58% of Americans rate
the economy as at least somewhat bad, while just 40% rate it as good.

Condition of the National Economy
Now 5/2014 3/2014 1/2014
Good 40% 43% 37% 37%
Bad 58 55 61 61

26% think the economy is getting better, though 30% think it is getting worse, and 43% think it is
staying the same.

Direction of the National Economy
Now 5/2014 3/2014 1/2014
Getting better 26% 30% 26% 31%
Getting worse 30 26 30 25
Staying the same 43 42 44 43
_____________________________________________________________________________________

This poll was conducted by telephone from July 29 - August 4, 2014 among 1,344 adults nationwide.
Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were
dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones.

Additional interviews were conducted with Hispanics (for use in future analysis), to yield a sample size of
426. The Hispanic oversample consisted of callbacks to Hispanic respondents who had previously
completed a survey as part of a random sample, and interviews with respondents whose telephone
numbers were likely to fall in high-incidence Hispanic areas on landline exchanges and cell phone rate
centers.

The weighting of the Hispanic sample consisted of non-response corrections for the callback numbers (to
account for systematic differences between those completing and those not completing the callback
interview), and a weighting adjustment to ensure that Hispanics in high-incidence areas were not
overrepresented in the data.

The Hispanic and non-Hispanic samples were weighted separately to match their groups population
characteristics such as gender, age, education, region, marital status and phone use based on recent
U.S. Census estimates. The samples were then combined in proportion to their size in the population,
and weighted to standard parameters of the total U.S. adult population.

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The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage
points. The error for subgroups may be higher. The margin of error for the sample of Hispanics is 6 pts
and 4 pts for Non-Hispanics. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release
conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.


8

CBS News National Poll
Foreign Policy Concerns, the President, and the Midterm Elections
July 29 August 4, 2014

Q1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind Jun14d
% % % % %
Approve 41 8 74 36 40
Disapprove 50 86 20 50 54
Don't know/No answer 10 6 6 14 6

Q2. Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously
gotten off on the wrong track?

May14c
Right direction 25 7 42 23 30
Wrong track 67 89 47 68 62
Don't know/No answer 9 5 10 10 7

Q3. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?

Mar14c
Economy / Jobs 22 14 26 22 30
Immigration / illegal immigrants 13 18 12 12 3
Health care / health insurance 5 9 4 4 7
Partisan politics 4 2 6 3 2
Barack Obama/the president 4 5 * 5 4
Miscellaneous government issues 4 5 5 3 3
Poverty / homelessness 3 1 2 4 2
Foreign policy / foreign affairs 3 4 2 3 1
Budget / national debt / deficit 3 5 1 4 5
Miscellaneous social issues 2 2 1 2 1
Education / school loans 2 * 2 2 3
War/peace (general) 2 2 3 2 2
Politicians / corrupt politicians 2 1 1 2 1
Republicans 2 - 4 1 1
Moral values / family values 2 2 * 2 2
Income gap/disparity 2 1 5 1 2
Other 20 24 21 23 26
Don't know/No answer 5 5 5 5 5







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Q4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind Jun14d
% % % % %
Approve 36 8 65 32 36
Disapprove 48 76 24 50 58
Don't know/No answer 16 16 11 18 6
Q5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

Approve 40 10 70 36 41
Disapprove 54 84 25 57 54
Don't know/No answer 6 6 5 6 5

Q6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the issue of immigration?

Mar14c
Approve 31 7 56 28 35
Disapprove 57 85 33 59 56
Don't know/No answer 12 8 11 13 9

Q7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling relations with Russia?

Approve 38 15 61 36
Disapprove 44 67 23 45
Don't know/No answer 18 18 16 19

Q8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation between Israel and the
Palestinians?

Approve 33 15 56 29
Disapprove 50 71 30 53
Don't know/No answer 16 14 15 18

Q9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Jun14d
Approve 15 20 12 14 14
Disapprove 78 71 82 80 78
Don't know/No answer 7 9 6 7 8








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Q10. How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad, or
very bad?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind May14c
% % % % %
Very good 3 2 5 2 4
Fairly good 37 26 56 32 39
Fairly bad 34 44 22 37 36
Very bad 24 26 15 28 19
Don't know/No answer 2 1 2 2 2

Q11. Do you think the economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

Better 26 13 38 26 30
Worse 30 40 17 33 26
Same 43 46 45 40 42
Don't know/No answer 1 1 1 1 1

Q12. In general, is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable or not favorable?

Favorable 29 66 8 24 33
Not favorable 62 30 89 61 58
Don't know/No answer 9 4 3 15 8

Q13. In general, is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable or not favorable?

Favorable 41 10 82 33 43
Not favorable 50 86 15 53 50
Don't know/No answer 9 4 3 14 8

Q14-Q17 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE

Q18. Do you think Barack Obama has strong qualities of leadership, or not?

Mar14c
Has 50 19 76 49 53
Doesn't have 47 79 21 47 45
Don't know/No answer 3 1 3 4 2

Q19. Do you think Barack Obama has the same priorities for the country as you have, or doesn't he?

Dec13a1
Yes 38 10 69 33 38
No 56 87 26 60 58
Don't know/No answer 5 3 5 7 4


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Q20. How much confidence do you have in Barack Obama's ability to handle an international crisis--a lot, some, a little,
or none at all?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind Mar14c
% % % % %
A lot 25 5 50 20 28
Some 27 18 30 30 25
A little 20 24 13 21 18
Not at all 27 51 7 27 27
Don't know/No answer 2 2 * 2 1

Q20a. Republicans in the House of Representatives have authorized a lawsuit against Barack Obama on the grounds that
he exceeded his authority when he delayed a provision of the 2010 health care law. Do you approve or disapprove of
this lawsuit?*

Approve 37 66 15 36
Disapprove 54 24 80 53
Don't know/No answer 9 10 5 12
*based on interviews conducted August 1-4

Q21. How much attention have you been able to pay to the 2014 election campaign a lot, some, not much or no
attention so far?

** REGISTERED VOTERS **
Total Rep Dem Ind Jun14d
A lot 25 24 30 22 28
Some 39 44 37 37 37
Not much 21 20 20 23 23
No attention 14 11 13 16 12
Don't know/No answer 1 1 * 2 *

Q22. HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE

Q23. If the 2014 election for U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for the Republican
candidate or the Democratic candidate in your district?

Republican 37 84 7 32 39
Democratic 41 4 86 30 42
Other (vol.) 3 1 - 6 2
Won't vote (vol.) 2 * * 4 1
Depends (vol.) 6 5 2 9 7
Don't know/No answer 11 7 5 19 9






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Q24. Compared to previous Congressional elections, this year are you more enthusiastic about voting than usual, or less
enthusiastic?
REGISTERED VOTERS
Total Rep Dem Ind Jun14d
% % % % %
More enthusiastic 36 43 42 28 38
Less enthusiastic 49 43 49 53 45
Same (vol.) 12 14 8 14 14
Don't know/No answer 3 1 1 5 2

Q25-26. BLANK

Q27. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to do
a better job handling immigration issues?


TOTAL RESPONDENTS MAY14c*
Republican Party 38 82 15 32 42
Democratic Party 41 8 76 37 42
Both (vol.) 1 * 1 1 1
Neither (vol.) 8 5 3 13 7
Don't know/No answer 12 5 6 17 7
*Registered voters

Q28. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to do
a better job on the economy?

Republican Party 41 86 12 37 50*
Democratic Party 42 5 79 37 40
Both (vol.) 1 * 1 1 1
Neither (vol.) 7 4 3 10 5
Don't know/No answer 9 3 5 14 4
*Registered voters

Q29. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to do
a better job handling national security?

Apr06a*
Republican Party 46 86 18 43 42
Democratic Party 33 6 66 26 35
Both (vol.) 3 1 4 2 6
Neither (vol.) 8 3 3 13 6
Don't know/No answer 11 5 9 15 11
* Wording change: would do a better job handling a national security crisis?





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Q30. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party comes closer to
sharing your values?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Republican Party 38 88 7 34
Democratic Party 45 6 86 40
Both (vol.) 3 1 3 3
Neither (vol.) 7 3 2 11
Don't know/No answer 7 2 2 12

Q31-Q53 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE

Q54. Do you consider Russia an ally of the United States, friendly but not an ally, unfriendly, or an enemy of the United
States?

Total Rep Dem Ind Mar14c
% % % % %
Ally 7 6 8 7 7
Friendly but not an ally 29 27 27 31 35
Unfriendly 34 35 38 31 33
Enemy 22 29 19 20 18
Don't know/No answer 9 4 8 11 7

Q55. BLANK

Q56. The United States and Europe have enacted additional sanctions against Russia in response to Russias actions in
Ukraine. How effective do you think these sanctions will be in changing Russias actions in Ukraine very effective,
somewhat effective, not very effective, or not at all effective?

Very effective 7 6 10 6
Somewhat effective 31 26 46 25
Not very effective 31 36 24 33
Not at all effective 23 26 13 26
Don't know/No answer 8 6 6 10

Q57. In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, which side do you sympathize with more--Israel or the
Palestinians?

Aug02a
Israel 54 77 51 46 47
Palestinians 16 5 21 17 12
Both (vol.) 3 1 4 2 5
Neither (vol.) 14 9 11 17 15
Don't know/No answer 14 8 12 18 21


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Q58. Do you think the U.S. has a responsibility to try to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, or
doesnt the U.S. have this responsibility?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind Aug02a*
% % % % %
U.S. has responsibility 35 38 40 31 47
Not U.S. responsibility 59 58 56 61 46
Don't know/No answer 6 4 4 8 7
*wording change: or isn't that really this country's business?

Q59. How much have you heard or read about the current fighting between Israel and Hamas forces in the Palestinian
territory of Gaza a lot, some, or not much?

A lot 44 49 46 41
Some 29 32 27 28
Not much 24 19 25 26
Nothing 2 * 1 4
Don't know/No answer * * * 1

Q60. Who do you think is mostly to blame for the current fighting between Israel and Hamas --mostly Israel, mostly
Hamas, or both sides equally?

Israel 6 2 10 6
Hamas 34 54 24 32
Both equally 47 35 55 48
Other nation (vol.) * * * 1
Don't know/No answer 12 9 11 13





Unweighted Weighted
Total Respondents 1,344

Total Republicans 307 299
Total Democrats 412 377
Total Independents 625 668


Margin of error: 3pts