CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

The State of the Union: Evaluating President Obama

January 7-10, 2016
Q1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Approve
Disapprove
Dont know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
46
47
7

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
11
81
86
13
3
7

Ind
%
43
46
10

28
18
9
38
7

4
7
9
77
3

22
21
12
34
10

Dec15a
%
44
48
8

4-PART:
Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Don't know/No answer

57
24
4
9
7

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
Wrong track
Don't know/No answer

27
65
8

7
91
2

45
47
8

27
62
11

Dec15a
24
68
8

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

Economy / jobs
Terrorism/Islamic extremism/ISIS
Immigration/illegal immigrants
Guns/ 2nd amendment rights
Budget/national debt/deficit
Income gap/plight of middle class
Health care/health insurance
Poverty/homelessness
Environment/global warming
Racism/race relations
Miscellaneous social issues
Education/school loans
Foreign policy
Defense/national security
Barack Obama/the president
Miscellaneous government issues
Crime/violence
Homeland security
Other
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
12
13
8
5
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
24
5

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
13
11
18
9
8
6
1
11
6
1
2
8
6
3
1
3
1
3
1
3
1
2
*
2
2
1
3
1
5
1
3
2
1
3
4
1
19
24
5
5

Ind
%
14
12
10
4
3
2
3
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
28
5

Dec15a
%
12
19
5
6
2
1
3
1
2
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
4
3
26
4

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

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

34
52
13

7
88
5

64
24
11

30
51
19

37
51
13

Q5.Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

45
49
6

11
85
4

76
20
4

44
47
8

Dec15a
45
46
9

Q6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat of terrorism?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

40
54
6

11
87
2

69
26
5

38
54
9

34
57
8

Q7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
43
54
3

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
7
74
91
23
2
3

Ind
%
43
52
5

Jan15b
%
45
51
4

Q8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the issue of immigration?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

37
55
8

9
86
5

65
29
6

34
55
12

Feb15b
39
54
7

Q9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling gun policy?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

43
51
6

10
83
7

72
22
6

42
52
6

Apr13b
41
52
7

Q10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
15
75
10

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
15
13
77
78
8
9

Ind
%
16
72
12

Dec15a
%
15
74
11

Q11. How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad or
very bad?
Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer

5
44
31
18
1

1
31
39
27
1

6
60
22
10
2

7
42
32
18
1

4
42
31
22
2

Q12. Do you think the economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer

24
29
46
1

10
44
45
1

37
16
46
*

24
29
46
1

Oct15d
23
30
45
2

Q13. So far, has Barack Obama's performance in office been better than you expected, worse than you expected, or
about what you expected?

Better than expected

Worse than expected
About what expected
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
15
31
52
1

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
2
28
51
16
46
56
*
1

Ind
%
14
30
54
2

Dec11a
%
10
35
52
3

Q14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Paul Ryan is handling his job as Speaker of the House of Representatives?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

30
29
41

34
23
43

27
34
39

30
29
41

Q15-q39 FOR FUTURE RELEASE

Q40. Would you rather see the next Democratic presidential nominee generally continue Barack Obama's policies, or
mostly change to different policies?

Continue Barack Obama's policies

Change to different policies
Don't know/No answer

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS

%
58
38
4

Nov15a
%
60
35
5

Q41-Q50 FOR FUTURE RELEASE

Q51. In general, do you think laws covering the sale of guns should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are
now?

More strict
Less strict
Kept as they are
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
57
10
30
3

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
36
82
14
4
47
12
3
1

Ind
%
53
11
31
4

Dec15a
%
51
10
36
3

Q52. Do you favor or oppose a federal law requiring background checks on all potential gun buyers?

Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

88
10
2

85
12
3

97
3
-

84
12
4

Oct15d
92
7
1

Q53. How much do you think stricter gun laws would do to help prevent gun violence? Would stricter laws help a lot,
some, not much, or not at all?

A lot
Some
Not much
No attention so far
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
26
28
16
27
2

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
8
39
22
39
25
11
42
10
3
1

Ind
%
27
24
15
31
3

Dec15a
%
26
24
15
33
2

Q54. How much do you think better mental health screening and treatment would do to help prevent gun violence?
Would better mental health screening and treatment help a lot, some, not much, or not at all?
A lot
Some
Not much
No attention so far
Don't know/No answer

44
35
10
9
2

30
43
15
10
2

55
32
6
6
1

45
32
10
10
3

45
32
11
8
2

Q55-Q56, Q58,Q59 FOR FUTURE RELEASE

Q57. How would you say things are going for the U.S. in its fight against the militant group ISIS in Iraq and Syria? Would
you say things are going very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?
Very well
Somewhat well
Somewhat badly
Very badly
Don't know/No answer

2
25
32
35
7

2
13
31
51
3

3
37
37
19
5

2
23
28
36
10

3
22
37
34
5

Q60. Barack Obama recently announced an executive action that, among other things, seeks to expand background
checks for some firearms and strengthen federal enforcement of the nations current gun laws, particularly in online
sales. Do you favor or oppose this action?
Favor
Oppose
Haven't heard enough to
have an opinion (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

62
32

43
52

81
15

62
32

2
3

2
4

1
4

4
3

Q61. Regardless of what you think of this gun policy, do you think Barack Obama acted within his authority as president
when he issued this executive action, or do you think his actions went beyond his authority as president?

Within his authority

Beyond his authority
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL
Total
%
49
43
8

RESPONDENTS
Rep
Dem
%
%
20
77
73
17
7
6

Ind
%
47
43
10

Gun Do you or does any other member of your household own a handgun, rifle, shot gun, or any other kind of firearm?
Yes, self
Yes, other member of household
Yes, self and other
No
Don't know/No answer

13
15
12
55
6

13
24
18
35
11

11
11
6
71
*

14
12
12
56
6

Q62. Are you or is any other member of your household a member of the National Rifle Association?
Yes, self
Yes, other member of household
Yes, self and other
No
Don't know/No answer

4
5
3
86
2

6
9
5
78
3

1
1
2
94
1

4
6
2
84
3

Unweighted
1,276

Weighted

Total Respondents
Total Republicans
Total Democrats
Total Independents

352
379
545

323
375
577