2009-12-15-皮尤-Mixed_Views_of_Obama_at_Year_s_End_48页_184kb

Analysis Summary

At the end of 2009, President Barack Obama's approval rating stood at 49%, largely unchanged from November, reflecting mixed public opinion on his policies. Key findings include:

• Economic Concerns: Economic optimism plummeted, with only 8% rating national conditions as “excellent or good,” and 91% rating them “only fair or poor.” Reduced confidence also troubled evaluations of the rescue plan.
• Health Care Reform: Strong opposition (48%) vs. support (35%) emerged, with opponents citing excessive government involvement and high costs as primary reasons.
• Afghanistan Policy: Despite public approval (51%), only 36% favored the military strategy, criticizing the lack of a clear conclusion path to Afghanistan.
• Party Divisions: Sharp partisan splits existed; Democrats showed high support for Obama on domestic issues, while Republicans largely opposed or expressed little confidence.
• Liberal Democrats: A strong base continued to support Obama, though enthusiasm faded slightly for listening to liberal voices within his party.
• Economic Confidence: Just 52% believed Obama had a clear plan to address the economy
• Expenditure Trends: 84% of Americans reported reducing spending
• Toxic Geopolitics: 90% thought reforms were beyond comprehension

Future planning relied heavily on economic trends and potential legislative advances, but social concerns and international liabilities remained significant challenges.