By Peter Wallsten & Aliza Gray
Americans are more pessimistic about the state of the country and less confident in President Barack Obamas leadership than at any point since Mr. Obama entered the White House according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
Sixty-two percent of adults
in the survey feel the country is on the wrong track the highest level since before the 2008 election. Just one-third think the economy will get better over the next year a 7-point drop from a month ago and the low point of Mr. Obamas tenure.
Amid anxiety over the nations course support for Mr. Obama and other incumbents is eroding. For the first time more people disapprove of Mr. Obamas job performance than approve.
And 57 of voters would prefer to elect a new person to Congress than re-elect their local representatives the highest share in 18 years.
The results show a really ugly mood and an unhappy electorate said Democratic pollster Peter Hart who conducts the Journal/NBC poll with GOP pollster Bill McInturff. The voters I think are just looking for change and that means bad news for incumbents and in particular for the Democrats.
Mr. McInturff said voters feelings typically set by June in any election year are being hardened by frustration over the economy and the oil spill. It would take an enormous and seismic event to change the drift of these powerful forces before November he said.
Mr. McInturff added that any little faint signs in the spring that voters were adopting a more optimistic outlook have now been squished by feelings from
this oil spill.
For Democrats the results underscore the potential for major losses in November.
Both parties have been forced to contend with an anti-establishment wave this year. But Republicans through strong fund raising and candidate recruitment have put enough seats in play in the House and Senate to give the GOP a realistic shot at winning control of both chambers.
Support for Mr. Obama and his party is declining among centrist independent voters. But more ominous for the president some in his base also are souring with 17 of Democrats disapproving of Mr. Obamas job performance the highest level of his presidency.
Approval for Mr. Obama has dropped among Hispanics too along with small-town residents white women and seniors. African-Americans remain the firmest part of Mr. Obamas base with 91 approving of his job performance.
In winning the presidency Mr. Obama conveyed an image of remaining steady and focused during the banking crisis and economic downturn. Now amid the oil spill and a weak economic recovery Americans are taking a dimmer view of his personal qualities and leadership style.
Some 30 in the poll said they do not really relate to Mr. Obama. Only 8 said that at the beginning of his presidency.
Fewer than half give him positive marks when asked if he is honest and straightforward.
And 49 rate him positively when asked if he has strong leadership qualities down from 70 when Mr. Obama took office and a drop of 8 points since January.
Just 40 rate him positively on his ability to handle a crisis an 11-point drop since January. Half disapprove of Mr. Obamas handling of the oil spill including
one in four Democrats.
As a Democrat and as a woman I am disappointed in him said poll respondent Melissa Riner a 42-year-old law clerk from Mesa Ariz. Referring to the oil spill Ms. Riner added I dont think hes handling it. He doesnt seem to be doing anything. He just talks.
James Ciarmataro a 23-year-old stay-at-home dad from Macomb Mich. said it was difficult to relate to Mr. Obama because the president is eating steak dinners at the White House and playing golf while the country is suffering.
In the survey 45 said they wanted to see a Republican-controlled Congress after November compared to 43 who wanted Democratic control. But even more telling is the excitement gap between the core voters of each party.
Just 44 of Obama votersthose who voted for Mr. Obama in 2008 or told pollsters they intended tonow express high interest in the midterm elections. Thats a 38-point drop from this stage in the 2008 campaign.
By contrast 71 of voters who supported Republican John McCain in 2008 expressed high interest in this years elections slightly higher than their interest level at this stage in that campaign.
The gap helps explain why the Democratic National Committee is spending $50 million on a campaign to try to lure Obama voters back to the polls this year.
While a majority still favors greater offshore drilling support has slipped considerably over the past month as the Gulf oil spill has grown worsefrom 60 in May to 53 now.
Sixty-three percent support legislation to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy sources even if it means an increase in energy costs.
