Early Polls Show Positive SOTU Reaction

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_01/022133.php

EARLY POLLS SHOW POSITIVE SOTU REACTION.... Gauging public reactions to the State of the Union is more than a little tricky at this point. For one thing, it's only been 12 hours. For another, the audience isn't especially broad -- those who tune into a presidential speech like this one are more likely to be open to what he has to say.

But with those caveats in mind, the initial results suggest President Obama's speech was well received. CBS News, for example, published these results over night.

Of the randomly selected 522 speech viewers questioned by CBS, 83 percent said they approved of the proposals the President made. Just 17 percent disapproved -- typical of the high support a president generally receives among those who choose to watch the State of the Union. <...>

Six in 10 of those asked said they thought Mr. Obama conveyed a clear plan for creating jobs, and seven in 10 said his plans for the economy will help ordinary Americans. Another seven in 10 said President Obama has the same priorities for the country as they have.

The same individuals were interviewed both before and after Wednesday's State of the Union, and after the speech, 70 percent said Mr. Obama shares their priorities for the country, up from 57 percent before the speech.

Indeed, among those polled before and after, there were big jumps in support for the president on everything from jobs to health care to U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

CNN also released a poll last night, reflecting widespread support -- 48% had a very positive reaction to the speech, 30% had a somewhat positive response, and 21% had a negative response. CNN Polling Director Keating Holland added, "All in all, Obama had a definite affect on his audience."

And Mark Blumenthal noted that Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg's Democracy Corps conducted a "dial group" (focus group with dials) in Las Vegas, and found a "very positive response," most notably on "bank reform and wall street and special interests."

On the issue of whether he puts Wall Street ahead of the middle class, it was a 50 point shift on people saying that well. There was a 40-point shift...on fighting special interests. On banking reform, on support, it was a 38 point shift in favor of that. And that's clearly, far and away the place where he showed the greatest strength and clarity.

These immediate reactions can shift, but it seems like the kind of positive response the White House can build on.

—Steve Benen

[goclark]

1. Excellent

[Peacetrain]

2. He hit the notes, that the average person (not blogging activist)

is concerned about.. jobs, ending the war, health care, DADT, college grants, helping returning vets, environmental concerns, and energy.. and even better.. a road map on how to do it.

Best of all.. was the call out of congress.. you got the numbers do it (to the Democrats) and just say no makes you part of the process and you will own the outcome(to the Republicans)

[Jennicut]

3. Even people who did not watch the SOTU will be influenced by the polling

and overall tone from the media.

[jasmeel]

4. vote yourself here!

http://www.cnn.com/

It's weird the highest vote you can give is good....

[euphoria12leo]

5. Thanks for the link

In a hurry I guess. I almost missed it.

:applause:

[old mark]

6. I saw the speech this morning, and was not expecting to like is as much as I did.

I thought he has some good solid plans, and I am really excited by the infrastructure work that is coming - the country has been neglected for decades, and these jobs can't be exported. I wish our President great success, and I had to laugh at the republicans once again taking tghe opportunity to make assholes of themselves on national TV - You go, guys!

I think the GOP is in for a rude shock in the upcoming elections.


mark