CBS News Poll

For release: November 11, 2010

6:30 PM EST

Looking Ahead to the 112th Congress

November 7-10, 2010

• The elections are over, and 40% of Americans are pleased with the results, while 28%
are disappointed. But the public’s expectations for the new Congress are mixed, with
more than four in 10 saying they expect Congress to accomplish less than usual.

• More than half (56%) of Americans want the next Congress to focus on the economy
and jobs, far more than mention health care or any other issue. Most think neither the
President nor the Republicans in Congress have a clear plan for creating jobs.

• Majorities of Americans want to see compromise between Congress and the President,
and 73% expect President Barack Obama to compromise with Republicans to get things
done.

• But the public has different expectations for what the Republicans in Congress will do.
Just 45% think the Republicans will work with the President in order to get things done,
and 49% think the Republicans’ main goal will be to block the President’s policies rather
than pass their own.

The Outcome of the Midterm Elections

Americans’ reactions to the results of last week’s midterm elections don’t come close to
matching the level of enthusiasm found just after the 2006 elections. 40% say they were
pleased with last week’s election results, compared to 58% who were pleased after the 2006
elections. More than one in four don’t care about the election outcome. Current reaction is
similar to that found after the 2002 midterms.

Feelings about the Election Outcome

All Dems Reps. .Inds. 11/2006 11/2002 11/1994
Pleased 40% 20% 73% 36% 58% 37% 49%
Disappointed 28 52 8 21 22 26 24
Don’t care much 27 23 16 37 15 31 20

Republicans are far more likely than Democrats or independents to feel pleased about the
election results. Nearly four in ten independents say they don’t much care.

The public has doubts about what the next Congress will achieve in general. Just 39% expect
Congress to accomplish more than usual, while slightly more, 41%, expect them to accomplish
less. Expectations for Congress were more positive just after the Republicans took over
Congress in the 1994 elections.
 Expect Congress to Accomplish…
Now 12/2006 1/1999 11/1994
More than usual 39% 47% 38% 49%
Less than usual 41 34 42 29
Same as usual (vol.) 9 9 7 7

The outcome of the election has done little to change Americans’ views of the government in
Washington; more than seven in 10 remain dissatisfied or angry, and just a quarter are satisfied.
However, the percentage of Republicans that describes themselves as angry has dropped from
35% in early October to 26% now.

Feelings about Government in D.C.

Now 10/2010
All Republicans All Republicans
Enthusiastic 3% 1% 2% 0%
Satisfied 21 6 23 10
Dissatisfied 56 64 51 55
Angry 18 26 23 35

62% of Americans say the country is off on the wrong track, similar to the percentage before the
midterm elections.

Priorities, Expectations for the New Congress

Four in five Americans continue to rate the economy as bad, so it is no surprise that when
asked what they would like to see the new Congress concentrate on first, the economy and jobs
is the top response - and by a large margin. Just 14% of Americans want the new Congress to
focus on health care.

What Should New Congress Concentrate on in January?

Economy/jobs 56%
Health care 14
Budget deficit 4
War 2
Immigration 2
Taxes 2
Education 2

However, just 30% of Americans think the Republicans in Congress have a clear plan for
creating jobs, and nearly six in ten think they do not have one. Slightly more, but just 38%, think
President Obama has a job creation plan.

Does….Have a Clear Plan For Jobs?

Yes No
Republicans in Congress 30% 58
President Obama 38% 54

Nevertheless, 60% are optimistic that the new Congress will do a better job improving the
nation’s economy than Congress has done in the last two years.
There is no public consensus as to what should be done about two other issues political leaders
have been discussing. Americans are mixed overall on what the new Congress should do
about health care (as they have been for some time) and the Bush tax cuts – but partisan
divides run deep.

Republicans want the new Congress to try to repeal the new health care law; Democrats want it
kept.

Health Care Bill: Should Congress Try To…

All Dems Reps Inds All (10/2010)
Repeal health care law 45% 19% 76% 47% 41%
Keep health care law 44 71 17 38 45

It has been debated whether the 2001 tax cut for households earning over $250,000 per year
should be continued; 49% favor letting those cuts expire, while 44% think they should be kept.
Again, views are divided along partisan lines.

Should Tax Cuts for $250k+ incomes Expire?

All Dems Reps Inds All (10/2010)
Yes, expire 49% 69% 23% 49% 48%
No, keep them 44 25 70 43 43

More independents want to see the health care law repealed rather than kept. On taxes, nearly
half of independents would like the tax cuts for households making $250,000 or more to expire.

Will They Work Together?

When asked what they think will happen when the new Congress convenes in January,
Americans are hopeful that President Obama will reach out to Republicans in Congress – but
less hopeful that Republicans will try to work with the President.

Three-quarters think the President will try to work with Republicans – but less than half think the
Republicans will try to cooperate with him.

Obama and Republicans: Who Will Try To Work Together?

Yes No
Obama will work w/Republicans 73% 23
Republicans will work w/Obama 45% 48

Most Democrats think President Obama will reach across the aisle, but six in ten Democrats
think the Congressional Republicans will not reciprocate. Meanwhile, the nation’s rank-and-file
Republicans think both the President and the new Republican House will try to work together.

In fact, about half of Americans believe the main goal of Republicans in Congress will be to
block President Obama’s policies, while just 36% think their goal will be to try to enact policies
of their own.

Main Goal of Republicans in Congress

All Dems Reps Inds
Pass their own policies 36% 32% 43% 35%
Block Obama’s policies 49 57 36 50
Don’t know 15 11 21 15
Democrats and independents are especially likely to think the Republicans will block the
President’s policies. Republicans - and all voters who backed Republicans in 2010 - are more
likely to think they will try to pass their own policies.

Yet Americans of all partisan stripes continue to call for compromise in Washington, despite
Republican wins last week. A majority of Americans – including the newly-victorious
Republicans, as well as Democrats and independents – say leaders should make tradeoffs in
order to get things accomplished.

Should Republicans in Congress Stick To Positions Or Compromise?

All Dems Reps Inds Tea Partiers
Compromise 72% 86% 60% 69% 55%
Stick to positions 21 9 32 25 38

Even most Tea Party supporters – who overwhelmingly backed Republican candidates – want
compromise, too, though a substantial number of them do not.

Similarly, most Americans (and especially Republicans) want the President to make
compromises if that’s what it takes to get things done.

Should Pres. Obama Stick To Positions Or Compromise?

All Dems Reps Inds
Compromise 78% 70% 88% 78%
Stick to positions 16 23 5 17

The President

President Barack Obama’s job approval rating has not changed in the wake of last week’s
midterm elections. 45% now approve, and as many disapprove. Americans have been divided
in their views of President Obama for months.

President Obama’s Overall Job Rating

Now 10/2010 5/2010 4/2010
Approve 45% 45% 47% 51%
Disapprove 45 47 43 39

The president’s approval rating on handling the economy is more negative than positive, as it
has been since the summer.

President Obama’s Handling of the Economy…

Now 10/2010 7/2010 10/2009 4/2009
Approve 40% 42% 40% 54% 61%
Disapprove 53 50 54 38 29

And while his approval rating on handling foreign policy is more positive, fewer than half
approves.

President Obama’s Handling of Foreign Policy

Now 7/2010 4/2010 4/2009
Approve 46% 44% 48% 59%
Disapprove 37 41 38 23
Despite his mixed approval ratings, more than half the public is optimistic about the next two
years of Mr. Obama’s presidency.

Views of the Parties

The Republicans made significant gains in last week’s voting, but neither they nor the
Democratic Party is held in high regard. Neither party elicits a favorable view from a majority of
Americans, and more hold a negative rather than positive view of the Republicans. These
figures are essentially unchanged from before the elections, and also hold among those who
cast a ballot in the 2010 elections.

Views of the Parties

Favorable Unfavorable
Democratic party 46% 46
Republican party 42% 48

___________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,137 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone
November 7-10, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and
cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus
three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards
of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
CBS News Poll
Looking Ahead to the 112th Congress
November 7-10, 2010

q1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Oct10e
% % % % %
Approve 45 10 78 40 45
Disapprove 45 83 14 47 47
DK/NA 10 7 8 13 8

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 29 8 50 26 34
Wrong track 62 89 37 66 61
DK/NA 9 3 13 8 5

q3 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

Approve 40 7 75 30 42
Disapprove 53 89 20 58 50
DK/NA 7 4 5 12 8

q4 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?

Jul10b
Approve 46 21 71 41 44
Disapprove 37 68 17 35 41
DK/NA 17 11 12 24 15

q5 Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic about the next two years with Barack Obama
as president?

Oct10e
Optimistic 55 26 83 50 56
Pessimistic 38 65 14 41 37
DK/NA 7 9 3 9 7

q6 BLANK

q7 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 2 0 5 1 0
Fairly good 18 8 27 17 21
Fairly bad 44 43 42 45 45
Very bad 35 48 24 36 33
DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1
q8 In general, are you pleased or disappointed with the outcome of the November
elections for Congress, or don't you care much one way or the other?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Nov06b
% % % % %
Pleased 40 73 20 36 58
Disappointed 28 8 52 21 22
Don't care much 27 16 23 37 15
DK/NA 5 3 5 6 5

q9 Of all the problems facing this country today, which one do you most want the new
Congress to concentrate on first when it begins in January?

Jan07a
%
Economy and Jobs 56 59 57 52 7
Health Care 14 16 13 12 7
Budget Deficit/National Debt 4 6 4 4 1
Immigration 2 2 3 2 6
Education 2 1 3 2 4
War/Iraq/Afghanistan 2 1 1 5 45
Taxes/IRS 2 2 2 3 2
Other 9 6 7 10 22
DK/NA 9 7 10 10 6

q10 BLANK

q11 In general, is your opinion of the Republican party favorable or not favorable?

Oct10e
Favorable 42 79 17 38 41
Not favorable 48 15 78 43 52
DK/NA 10 6 5 19 7

q12 In general, is your opinion of the Democratic party favorable or not favorable?

Favorable 46 10 86 35 46
Not favorable 46 85 12 49 48
DK/NA 8 5 2 16 6

q13 BLANK

q14 Which comes closest to your feelings about the way things are going in Washington --
enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?

Oct10a
Enthusiastic 3 1 5 2 2
Satisfied, not enthusiastic 21 6 37 16 23
Dissatisfied but not angry 56 64 49 57 51
Angry 18 26 5 24 23
DK/NA 2 3 4 1 1
q15 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?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Jan07c
% % % % %
More 39 45 36 37 50
Less 41 35 46 41 33
Same (Vol.) 9 9 6 11 8
DK/NA 11 11 12 11 9

q16-17 BLANK

q18 Looking ahead to the next two years, are you generally optimistic or pessimistic that
the new Congress will do a better job improving the nation’s economy than they have
during the last two years?

Optimistic 60 79 50 55
Pessimistic 33 14 43 36
DK/NA 7 7 7 9

q19 Do you think Barack Obama will try to work with Republicans in Congress in order to
get things done, or won't he?

Work with Republicans 73 52 94 69

Not work with Republicans 23 42 3 28
DK/NA 4 6 3 3

q20 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 45 64 32 44

Not work with Obama 48 31 61 49
DK/NA 7 5 7 7

q21 Which do you think Barack Obama should do--compromise some of his positions in order
to get things done, or stick to his positions even if it means not getting as much done?

Oct10e
Compromise 78 88 70 78 69
Stick to positions 16 5 23 17 22
Depends (Vol.) 3 2 4 3 3
DK/NA 3 5 3 2 6

q22 Which do you think the Republicans in Congress should do--compromise some of their
positions in order to get things done, or stick to their positions even if it means not
getting as much done?

Compromise 72 60 86 69 78
Stick to positions 21 32 9 25 15
Depends (Vol.) 3 5 2 3 3
DK/NA 4 3 3 3 4

q23 BLANK
q24 What do you think will be the main goal of the Republicans in Congress – do you think
their main goal is to pass policies of their own, or their main goal to block President
Obama’s policies?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Pass own policies 36 43 32 35
Block Obama's policies 49 36 57 50
DK/NA 15 21 11 15

q25 Do you think Barack Obama does or does not have a clear plan for creating jobs?

Oct10e
%
Does 38 17 61 33 42
Does not 54 78 30 60 53
DK/NA 8 5 9 7 5

q26 Do you think the Republicans in Congress do or do not have a clear plan for creating
jobs?

Do 30 44 20 29
Do not 58 38 71 60
DK/NA 12 18 9 11

q27 Do you think Congress should try to repeal the health care law that was passed in
March, or should they let it stand?

Repeal law 45 76 19 47 41
Let stand 44 17 71 38 45
DK/NA 11 7 10 15 14

q28 The Obama administration has proposed letting the tax cuts passed in 2001 expire for
households earning about $250,000 a year or more. This would increase federal income
taxes for those people. Do you think this proposal is a good idea or a bad idea?

Good idea 49 23 69 49 48
Bad idea 44 70 25 43 43
DK/NA 7 7 6 8 9

Sample sizes:

UNWEIGHTED WEIGHTED
Total Respondents 1137

Total Republicans 318 290 (26%)

Total Democrats 369 385 (34%)
Total Independents 450 462 (40%)