Poll: Obama begins 2010 with an even number approving and disapproving of his job performance

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Quinnipiac’s first national poll of 2010 was released today. Serving as something of a report card for the 111^th Congress and President Obama’s first year in office below are some of the key findings.

1) President Obama enters 2010 with voters evenly split on his job performance.

Suffering another small drop in recent polling Barack Obama ends his first year with a 45-45% approval to disapproval rating among registered voters polled by Quinnipiac. Two previous polls showed the President at 46% and his positives running slightly ahead of negatives. Back in June his approval rating was 59% with just 31% disapproving. The President is backed by 81% of Democrats and just 16% of Republicans. Those numbers are fairly consistent according to polling in recent months but his declining popularity with independents (42-48%) is enough to drag down his overall figures.

2) Democrats in Congress hold steady with low approval from voters.

Although their decline in numbers seems to have leveled off Democrats in control of Congress continue to receive poor ratings from voters on their job performance. Same as last month just 32% of voters approve and 59% disapprove of the way Democrats in Congress have been handling their jobs. Strikingly similar are ratings for the Republicans Party. Showing a slight increase in approval from December voters are split 32-58% on the performance of the minority party. Perhaps generating some momentum these current numbers are also an improvement from a 25-64% low the GOP received in early-October.

3) Fewer than three in ten Americans remain satisfied with current state of nation.

One of the more consistent polling categories in recent months has measured the satisfaction Americans have with the way things are going on their country overall. Although noticeably higher from all-time lows set in November of 2008 just 27% of Americans currently claim satisfaction. That includes just two-percent who are “very” satisfied against 44% who are very dissatisfied. Overall solid pluralities of Democrats (49%) remain satisfied with their party in power – 48% of self-described liberals agree with that sentiment. Just 15% of both Republicans and Conservatives meanwhile claim to be satisfied with the way things are going in America.

4) Obama’s handling of the economy slips back to early-December lows

After a small bounce in approval received just before Christmas President Obama has matched his worst approval ratings to date in his handling of the economy. By a 51-44% margin most Americans disapprove of the President’s efforts. While Democrats (77%) are generally supportive and Republicans (17%) mostly critical Obama’s overall numbers are dragged down by a poor 34-61% approval to disapproval margin he receives from the key block of independent voters. Those middle-aged 35-54 year olds are most critical of the President with just 35% approving of his handling of the economy. Moderates (47-46%) are almost evenly split.

5) Americans remain closely divided on Obama’s foreign policy

45% of Americans approve of President Obama’s handling of foreign policy – 46% disapprove. These totals closely mirror his ratings from December that showed a 46% approval, indicate a modest decline from his 49% rating in mid-November and do not point toward any sort of bump since the announcement of his military plans for Afghanistan. 72% of liberals approval of the President’s handling of the issue but just 21% of independents also approve. Moderates meanwhile supply Obama with a modest bump as they approve by a 55-37% margin.

6) Health care continues to be a drag on the President’s popularity

President Obama continues to struggle on the topic of health care as a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of the issue. At present just 35% of Americans approve of Obama’s handling, that’s a three-percent drop from last month and down nine-percent fro early-July. 70% of Democrats still approve of the President’s handling of the issue but less than one in ten Republicans (9%) share in that sentiment. Furthermore independents who could prove to be the key group on health care is strongly against the President with more than twice as many (63%) disapproving than approving.

7) President Obama’s approval rating on other topics

As many people approve as disapprove of the President on the issue of Afghanistan 45-45%. On the topic of job creation recently unspectacular figures on unemployment have contributed to a slight drop on Obama’s figures that currently stand at just 34% with 58% disapproving. 48% of the public meanwhile approves of the President handling of terrorism even in the wake of growing threats. Overall an even number of the public considers Obama’s first year in office a success and failure, 45-45%. Slightly more believe the country to be better off now with Obama as President (37%) than if McCain had won the election in November of 2008. Furthermore when compared to his predecessor George W. Bush 43% believe Obama has done a better a job against 30% who believe he has been worse and 23% bout the same.

AP PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS / Charles Dharapak