CBS NEWS POLL

Economic Optimism: Positive Views of the Economy Increase

January 9-12, 2015
Q1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
President?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
Oct14f
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
10

%
46
46

%
13
84
8

%
75
16
3

%
45
44
9

%
39
51
10

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?
Right direction
27
Wrong track
Don't know/No answer
8

56

38

12

62

36

86
7

33
3

54
5

10

66

Q3. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?
Sep14
a2
Economy and jobs
18
22
Terrorism (general)
5
7
Health care/health insurance/coverage 5
2
Immigration/illegal immigrants
5
3
Education/school loans/better quality
3
3
President/Barack Obama
3
8
Miscellaneous government issues
3
1
Income gap/disparity
3
2
Poverty/homelessness
2
4
Racism/race relations
2
1
Miscellaneous social issues
2
3
War/peace (general)
2
3

18
6
7

17
4
2

25
3
5

2
7

2
1

Partisan politics/negativity
2
Community/lack of unity
2
Budget/national debt/deficit/surplus
4
Crime/violence (general)
2
Police problems/corruption/brutality
*
Other
31
Don't know/No answer
4

2
2

2
4

1
1

*
2

2
-

3
4

22
6

31
6

32
7

2
1
32

Q4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign
policy?
Oct14
f
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
12

41
44

14
75
14

69
19
11

38
44
12

34
54
18

Q5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the
economy?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
Oct14f
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
7

%
47
47

%
12
84
6

%
76
19
4

%
47
46
5

%
41
52
7

Q6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health
care?
May1
4c
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
4

45
51

12
86
4

72
25
2

45
50
3

43
53
5

Q7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the issue of
immigration?
Sep14
b
Approve

40

14

65

36

30

Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
10

50

83
10

24
3

50
11

60
13

Q8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat
of terrorism?
Oct14
f
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
10

46
43

16
77
10

69
21
7

48
40
11

41
49
12

Q9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
10

16
72

26
58
12

12
77
16

14
75
10

14
76
11

Q10. In general, is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable or not favorable?
Favorable
Not favorable
62
Don't know/No answer
9

34

Jul14c
29

78
57

12
16

25
82

62

13

Q11. In general, is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable or not favorable?
Favorable
41
11
80
32
41
Not favorable
51
86
15
55
50
Don't know/No answer
8
3
4
13
9
Q12. 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
Oct14f
Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer
3

%
5
48
28
18

%
1
32
41
24
1

%
8
66
15
10
1

%
6
44
30
19
1

%
4
36
35
23
2

Q13. Do you think the economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about
the same?
Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer
1

42
17
40

23
25
51
1

62
8
29
1

39
18
41
1

25
27
46
2

Q14. How would you rate the job market in your area these days? Is it very good,
fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad?
May1
3b
Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer
4

11
45
24
16

7
42
31
16
3

11
55
19
12
4

13
40
24
19
3

5
41
29
22
3

Q15. Over the next year, do you think the job market in your area will get better,
get worse, or stay about the same?
Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer
3

36
10
52

21
9
67
3

52
8
40
3

33
12
51
1

33
13
51
4

Q16. Do you think the recent decrease in the price of oil has made the U.S.
economy better, worse, or has it not had much effect on the U.S. economy?
Better
Worse
No effect
Don't know/No answer

57
8
30

53
7
37
5

65
7
23
3

54
10
30
6

Q17. Do you think having a president from one party and Congress controlled by
another party is mostly good for the country, because it provides checks and
balances on the power of the president and Congress, or is it mostly bad for the
country, because it produces gridlock?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
Oct00l
%
Mostly good, checks and balances
55
Mostly bad, gridlock
34
Don't know/No answer
11

%
46

%
65

%
38

41

43

28

56

43

11

16

Q18. Do you think Barack Obama has strong qualities of leadership, or not?
Oct14
a
Has
Doesn't have
46
Don't know/No answer
2

54

19
44

83
80

53
16

43

52

Q19. Do you think Barack Obama has the same priorities for the country as you
have, or doesn't he?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer
5

44
52

12
87
4

75
22
2

41
53
3

Jul14c
38
56
6

Q20. So far, do you think Barack Obama's policies have generally helped the
economy, generally hurt the economy, or have Barack Obama's policies had no
impact on the economy?
Jan10
b
Helped
39
Hurt
No impact
Don't know/No answer
6

34
20

43

11

74

69
19
4

9
13
1

32
23
4

40
25
30
5

Q21. By the end of Barack Obama's second term in office, do you expect the
economy to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same?

Jan13
a
Better
Worse
Same (Vol.)
Don't know/No answer
2

35
17
46

13
29
54
3

61
5
32
3

30
18
49
1

42
25
31
3

Q26. Over the next two years, who do you think will have more influence over the
direction of the country: Barack Obama, or the Republicans in Congress?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
Jan13a
%
Barack Obama
59
Republicans in Congress
28
Both (Vol.)
Neither
(Vol.)
4
Don't know/No answer
7

%
29

%
20

%
42

26

57

69

45

58

1
3

3
2

2
1

10

10

Q22. Do you think that in the next two years the new Congress will accomplish more
or less than Congress usually does in a typical two-year period?
More
Less
Same (Vol.)
Don't know/No answer
9

43
40
7

63
21
11
10

32
54
5
6

40
42
6
9

38
43
9
12

Q23. Over the next two years, do you think there will be more cooperation between
Barack Obama and the Republicans in Congress than there has been in the past,
less cooperation, or about the same amount of cooperation as there has been in the
past?
Jan14
c
More
Less
Same
Don't know/No answer
3

16
31
50

12
40
46
3

18
31
48
2

17
27
53
3

13
32
53
3

Q24. Do you think Barack Obama will try to work with Republicans in Congress in
order to get things done, or won't he?
Jan11
c
Work with Republicans
77
Not work with Republicans
17
Don't know/No answer
6

61

29

87

61

34

68

10

32

Q25. Do you think the Republicans in Congress will try to work with Barack Obama
in order to get things done, or won't they?
Work with Obama
Not work with Obama
45
Don't know/No answer
9

44

64
51

30
31

42
66

52

46

Q27. From what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the health
care law that was enacted in 2010?
(If Approve, ask:) Do you strongly approve or somewhat approve?
(If Disapprove, ask:) Do you somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
Oct14f
Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
14
Strongly disapprove
41
Don't know/No answer
9

%
22
21

%
2
11
13

%
44
27
16

%
19
23
10

%
18
18
13

37

69

13

35

Q28. Which comes closest to your view about the 2010 health care law? 1. The law
is working well and should be kept in place as is. 2. There are some good things in
the law, but some changes are needed to make it work better. 3. The law has so
much wrong with it that it needs to be repealed entirely.
May1
4c
Working well and kept in place
6
Good things, but changes needed
56
Needs to be repealed entirely
35
Don't know/No answer
3

11

20

11

54

35

68

54

32

63

11

31

Q29. Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are living in
the US? (They should be allowed to stay in the US and eventually apply for
citizenship), they should be allowed to stay in the US legally, but not be allowed to
apply for citizenship or (they should be required to leave the US).
Sep14
b
Stay and apply for citizenship
50
Stay in the US legally, but not apply
13
Required to leave the US
27
Don't know/No answer
6

54

37

68

53

15

15

13

16

43
4

17
4

26
2

32

Q30. Do you favor or oppose building the Keystone XL pipeline that would transport
oil from Canada through the United States to refineries in Texas?
May1
4c
Favor
Oppose
28
Don't know/No answer
17

60

84
28

46
7

56
41

31

56

12

13

13

Q31. How likely do you think it is that the Keystone XL pipeline would harm the
environment very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely?
Very likely
23
7
31
26
22
Somewhat likely
32
28
39
30
34
Not very likely
26
35
16
27
24
Not at all likely
13
25
6
11
13
Don't know/No answer
7
5
8
6
7
Q32. How likely do you think it is that the Keystone XL pipeline would create a
significant number of jobs in the U.S. very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely,
or not at all likely?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
May14c
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
9
Not at all likely
5
Don't know/No answer
4

%
45
36

%
59
33
9

%
40
32
4

%
40
39
12

%
44
38
10

10

Q33. Barack Obama recently issued an executive order that would allow some
illegal immigrants already in the U.S. to stay here temporarily and apply for a work
permit if certain requirements are met. Do you favor or oppose this immigration
policy?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

62

37
34
4

79
57
5

63
18
3

32
4

Q33a. Regardless what you think of this immigration policy, do you think Barack
Obama acted within his authority as president when he issued this executive order,
or do you think his actions went beyond his authority as president?
Within his authority
Beyond his authority
Don't know/No answer

48

16
46
6

74
79
5

49
21
5

44
7

Q33b. Do you think Congress should try to stop this executive order on immigration
from taking place or should they let it stand?
Should stop it
Should let it stand
Don't know/No answer

55

40
25
5

70
79
5

18
56
3

38
6

Q34. How likely do you think it is that there will be a terrorist attack in the United
States within the next few months--very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or
not at all likely?
Oct14
a
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
31
Not at all likely
13
Don't know/No answer
3

17
40

24
47
26

14
38
19

16
38
29

15
39
28

12

15

14

Q35. Do you feel you pay more than your fair share in federal income taxes, less
than your fair share, or is the amount you pay about right?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
Jan14c
%
More than fair share
42
Less than fair share
3
About right
Don't know/No answer
5

58

%
37

%
43

%
29

39
1

54
3

65
2

55
2

50
5

Q36. Do you think American corporations pay more than their fair share in federal
income taxes, less than their fair share, or is the amount American corporations pay
about right?
Mar14a
More than fair share
11
Less than fair share
56
About right
Don't know/No answer
11

24

13

27

10

55

30

64

62

34
9

21
10

20
9

22

Q37. Do you think the gap between the rich and the poor in the U.S. is getting
larger, getting smaller, or has it stayed the same?
Jan14
c
Getting larger
70
Getting smaller
5
Stayed the same
Don't know/No answer
2

23

69

62

73

70

28
2

21
1

22
1

24

Q38. Should the government do more to reduce the gap between the rich and the
poor in this country, or is this something the government should not be doing?
Reduce gap
Should not
Don't know/No answer
6

55
39

29
65
6

80
15
5

53
41
5

49
45
6

Q39. As you may know, for the past several years the United States has been
holding a number of suspected terrorists at a U.S. military prison in Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba. Based on what you have heard or read, do you think the U.S. should
continue to operate the prison at Guantanamo Bay, or do you think the U.S. should
close the prison and transfer the prisoners somewhere else?
May1
3b
Continue to operate
58
Close it
34
Don't know/No answer
7

56

78

43

54

35

17

49

35

10

Q40. As you may know, cyber-attacks are attacks on computer systems using
software and the internet. How serious a threat do you think cyber-attacks are to
computer systems in the United States? Would you say cyber-attacks are a very
serious threat, somewhat serious, not too serious or not at all a serious threat?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep Dem Ind
May13b
Very
Somewhat
Not too serious
5
Not at all serious
Don't know/No answer
2

%
68
25
1

%
71
25
4

%
71
26
3

%
65
25
1

%
64
27
6

1
2

1
1

1
1

Q41. In general, do you think the United States is adequately prepared to deal with
a major cyber-attack on computer systems in this country, or not?
Prepared
Not prepared
57
Don't know/No answer
11

29

22
62

37
66

27
54

66

31

12

Q42. Thinking about your household income, would you say that it is more than
enough so that you can save money or buy some extras, just enough to meet your
bills and obligations, or is it not enough to meet your bills and obligations?
Mar14c

Can save and buy extras

30
Just enough to pay bills
45
Not enough to pay bills, etc
23
Don't know/No answer
2

Total respondents
Republicans
Democrats
Independents

23

26

23

22

47

50

50

44

28

22

25

32

Unweighted
1,001
268
292
441

Weighted
239 (24%)
293 (29%)
469 (47%)