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Inside the numbers: How Obama has fallen

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
11/24/09 10:03 AM EST

We've all seen reports that Barack Obama's job approval rating has recently fallen below 50 percent in the Gallup poll for the first time since the president took office in January. A look inside those numbers -- Gallup publishes a weekly breakdown of its results by demographic groups -- shows that there are a lot of other firsts in the polling:

Among age groups: For the first time in the White House, Obama is below 50 percent with every age group of Americans except those between 18 and 29. He's at 48 percent with people in the 30-49 range; 46 percent with people in the 50-64 range; and 42 percent with people 65 and over. Among those 18-29, he's at 61 percent.

Among racial groups: For the first time in the White House, Obama support among white Americans has fallen below 40 percent. He's at 39 percent among whites; 91 percent among blacks, and 70 percent among Hispanics.

Among income groups: For the first time in the White House, Obama is below 50 percent with every income group except those making less than $2,000 a month. He's at 49 percent among those making $2,000 to $4,999 a month; 44 percent among those making $5,000 to $7,499 a month; and 48 percent among those making $7,500 and more a month. Among the bottom income group, those making less than $2,000 a month, Obama's approval rating is 59 percent.

Religious practice: For the first time in the White House, Obama is below 50 percent with everyone who goes to church. He at 41 percent among those who attend weekly and 49 percent among those who attend nearly weekly or monthly. Among those who seldom or never go to church, he is at 55 percent.

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

Robbins Mitchell

Nov 24, 2009

Personally,I don't think that Barokeydoke Hubris Obozo gives a fat baby's butt about his standing in the opinion polls...hard core true believer ideologues rarely do....he is the poster child for pure unadulterated narcissistic ambition..."by which sin the angels fell"

markit8dude

Nov 24, 2009

That's 'weird'. I mean, Obama 'did so much' for the South Chicago gangland-like area he'd represented.

Oh, wait. No, he did nothing for his district. My bad.

Helldigger

Nov 24, 2009

I wonder why Obama still is above 30% with any group.

Must be the radical left wing faction that supports making the economy collapse under it's own weight bringing chaos to the world and marching in a new world left wing total redistribution of wealth Marxist Utopia.

The radicals still support him, but the majority is waking up and smelling the garbage.

It really stinks.

Obama will be exposed and the MSM will be forced to report the truth.

Health care reform, which the left believes we are all fooled into supporting, should never be allowed to continue.

The Dems and any liberal Republican will be on the unemployment line with the rest of those they let down soon, but will it be soon enough?

gladuasked

Nov 24, 2009

Robbins Mitchell may be right about Obama not caring about his poll standings, but if so, that is even more bad news for the Democratic Party as he will likely continue to aggressively pursue policies and practices that will alienate voters who do matter to the members of the House and Senate that must defend him and stand for election in 2010.

Susan Grant

Nov 24, 2009

1. Barack Hussein Obama is a LIAR.
2. He is in way over his head and not capable of running anything much less this country.
3.He is a committed communist and if left to his own devices, will destroy OUR country if we don't take it back SOON.

Petey

Nov 24, 2009

Obama must be impeached and then deported. He is destroying my country.
He can take his fat, hateful wife with him.

Sara

Nov 24, 2009

Now why would Obama and the Dems not care about poll numbers? Maybe because they are getting ready to add 20 to 30 illegal immigrants to the voter rolls. Or maybe they have high hopes in all the felons they are going to legalize to vote. Or it could be their ability to manipulate the census for redistricting?

SPA2

Nov 24, 2009

Quote. . Maybe because they are getting ready to add 20 to 30 illegal immigrants to the voter rolls . . end quote

Of course 20 to 30 might not do the trick.

tucanofulano

Nov 24, 2009

As the scales come off this snake more and more people, many of them American, recognize the guy for what he is, and loath him.

EconRob

Nov 24, 2009

91% of the blacks still support him. Is this the OJ effect?

Cato the Younger

Nov 24, 2009

This means that among young, godless, jobless blacks he has nearly 100% approval! Who would have thought this?

freedom's

Nov 25, 2009

50% come on 29% is more like it at best.
"HA" MR.fraud:here is something just for YOU.
ImpeachBarackObama.com

depaz

Nov 25, 2009

His (and those on Capital Hill) disregard for polls and opinions is very evident in the health care monstrosity they're trying to ram thru. Constituents are screaming against it and it gets passed anyway.

syn

Nov 25, 2009

Fret not Oba Mao, your superior approval rating among Ivy-Inbred Professors residing in your 57th State is 100% grade-A fantastic.

JohnSteele

Nov 25, 2009

"gladuasked

Nov 24, 2009

Robbins Mitchell may be right about Obama not caring about his poll standings, but if so, that is even more bad news for the Democratic Party as he will likely continue to aggressively pursue policies and practices that will alienate voters who do matter to the members of the House and Senate that must defend him and stand for election in 2010."

That assumes that there is a 2010 election. Given his track record so far I'd be looking for something else to do instead of going to the polling place

Ster

Nov 25, 2009

His approval level for Socialists is: 100%

Shadysider

Nov 25, 2009

Obama hasn't used false evidence to lead our country into a needless war that is leaving our country indebted to China. That's infinitely better than our last president. He's working to restore diplomacy to our country and to help the economic system back to recovery. Conservatives and some Republicans actually think Palin is the one for the job, so you can basically discount ALL of their stances. Obama is doing as good a job as can be expected. Republican law-makers complain that Obama isn't paying attention to jobs and then say they don't want government intrusion. Which is it, fellas? At this point Republicans are doing very little besides disagreeing with whatever Democrats say or do. This is not helping the Republican Party, and while Obama has disappointed some of the population who voted for him, the alternative (voting for a Republican) is NOT an option to them.

TX CHL Instructor

Nov 25, 2009

"Godless atheist" is redundant, and, of course, deliberately belittling -- at least, to you. You probably don't have sufficient intelligence to understand this, but I am an atheist, and I am anti-Obama. And to Shadysider: Oh-Bow-ma is destroying our country from within, and is the laughingstock of the world. The destruction of the COTUS is deliberate, because the coming nanny-state needs more dependents to perpetuate it. Here's hoping that 2010 will be a solid rout for Libs and for RINOs, so that the agenda for the 2nd half of Joker-in-chief's only term is thwarted.

Ying

Nov 25, 2009

Shadysider asks:

Republican law-makers complain that Obama isn't paying attention to jobs and then say they don't want government intrusion. Which is it, fellas?

I'll tell you "which is it". Do away with the over-regulation and over taxation they thwart on small business, lower the capital gains tax, even temporarily suspend it (which will bring in gobs of tax revenue from new jobs and taxes on profits) and do away with the concept of employer-covered health care and allow us to decide what coverage is best for us, just the way we do now for life, dental, auto and homeowners insurance. This will provide us an unprecedented number of options and prices to shop around for. That will make health care more affordable than ever. Of course, with the Thug-in-Chief, it'll never happen since that would mean relinquishing government control of the citizenry.

I'm out!

Nov 26, 2009

George Bush messed up this country for eight years and no one complained.Now since Obama is president every one wants to complain about his rating.He inherited this mess from Bush.Let the man do his job and stop complaining. If he was white would your rating be the same? Rome wasn't built in a day. Stop hateing and stand behind him.Give him a chance to do his job.Vengence gets us nowhere.

Virginia Gentleman

Nov 26, 2009

What isn't being noticed is that BHO's support is falling most strongly among White Democrats. You have to read all the way to the bottom of the Gallup report to their Bottom Line segment to see this conclusion.

Tischindelray

Nov 26, 2009

The White House is no place for on-the-job-training. This eejit has done more harm in 11 months than even carter did in 4 years. He, auntie nancy and uncle harry should be tried for TREASON. Jail Americans who won't buy "health" insurance? Have at it, mr mobster-in- chief. Try, just try, to enforce your new dictates and you will see precisely how "low your numbers are."

Virginia Gentleman

Nov 26, 2009

This data point suggests it is not the President's race (he was black before the election) but it is his policies generating the loss of support (although some would argue he was also a socialist before the election).

Virginia Gentleman

Nov 26, 2009

"George Bush messed up this country for eight years and no one complained." Huh??? That was all that filled the airwaves of the Lame Stream Media as well as many conservatives: complaints about everything from his grammar to his profligate spending. Welcome to the party and thanks for playing the game!

John

Nov 26, 2009

His Idiocy's support is at 91 percent among blacks and is below 50 percent with every income group except those making less than $2,000 a month. See the pattern here? He's popular with everyone with their hand out and a crack pipe in their mouth!

Matt

Nov 26, 2009

The sad part about it is that there is always a high liklehood that he will get re elected in 2012.

The misery index has to get very high for busy people to educate themselves and make informed voting decisions.

The other bad part is the republicans are going to capatilize on the disgruntled voter and do nothing either.

Dave in Va

Nov 26, 2009

Excuse me Shady and Ying? What are you smoking? Bush kept us SAFE and he did NOT rack up TRILLIONS in debt and deficits to do it! The entire Iraq war cost $600 billion. Obama's spending is twice that! Not to mention, it's taking him 3 MONTHS to decide a strategy for Afghanistan? Months??? And he still doesn't have a church...must be secretly Muslim. He's a socialist, who is forcing illegal, unconstitutional legislation upon this country. WHERE in the Constitution does government have the right to get involved in health care? And now the "anointed one" wants to tax us for sending soldiers?

Isadib

Nov 26, 2009

Based on the polling numbers, it is obvious that Blacks are the only group that (at this time, at least) are judging BO on the color of his skin, rather than the content of his character.

Carolyn - Tn.

Nov 26, 2009

Racist? I don't like his white half either. His agenda has always been to detroy the America he hates, and with my regrets, he is doing a good job.

ericinNC

Nov 26, 2009

A heavy weight I feel every day from fears of more weak decisions from this man and administration. The more I see - the more I think he is just a SUIT. Many strings attached to his suit control him - SEIU, SOROS, ACORN, etc...

Tater Salad

Nov 26, 2009

Now Obama is cow-towing to Mulsim terrorists in the Philippines and sending them letters. I guess we at home know where we stand with him in charge?

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/11/obama-reaches-out-to-philippine-jihadists.html

BettyO

Nov 26, 2009

Zero with NO executive experience sure shows!!!!! But he is BLACK!!!! Like that really matters. The idiot is simply black and white, with NO experience but being "Present".

MiPain

Nov 26, 2009

I Just got back from Gallup i think i figured out how they are cooking the books I posted the question to their blog but im thinking this one might not pass review. So I will post here so someone can see it.

Guys sorry if off topic but your presidential tracking numbers do not work you report 49% but the calculated percentage is 46% What gives? Michael Mann crunching your numbers?
2879 X 39% =1123 732 X 73% - 534
a/b X 100 (1123 534)/(2879 732) X 100 = 45.88
Whats UP? The only way to get to 49 is to Add the maximum margin of error to both sets of data and then round up better then 1/2 a point!!

raplh from the southside of chicago

Nov 26, 2009

91% blacks still approve of Obama while only 39% whites approve of him. This disparity speaks volumes about the why there is such a racial divide in this country. As one who has dabbled in statiscs, I can say with complete confidence that the 39% is totally explainable. As for the 91%, Im sorry black folks, but your reasoning appears a little shaky.

novadine

Nov 26, 2009

Many people now realize we are fighting for the survival of our Freedom and Liberty. The Democratic party has been hi-jacked by Progressive Marxist. Rev. Wright taught Black Liberation Theology to the Obamas for twenty years. It is based in Marxism. So are the principals of Acorn. Anything anti-American is their "hope and change". I do not care your race, religion or non-religion, your political party or your sexual persuasion. You either want to keep your Constitutional Freedoms or you do not. Many different types of people are turning away from Obama. There is no better country in the world and no where, where are people more free. Obama can keep his slave chains. I choose Liberty.

ggordon

Nov 26, 2009

One of my best friends, the black guy - is embarrassed that the number is so high with "his people". It shows a blatant ignorance or one sided "we're all sheep" mentality.
He also believes it shows a serious bias or prejudice, and is very close minded. He goes further - talking about being stereotyped etc... but I won't get into all of it. His views are right of mine, and he's not very nice to "his people".
I'm sure he's just an "Uncle Tom" though.

PaulRevere

Nov 26, 2009

Eventually the kids will realize that Obama/Pelosi/Reid are screwing them over with their health care "reform", that Obama's economic poliices are ruining the economy, and that Cap&Trade will finish off their prospects for good jobs with good futures.
Or, maybe they're too dense to get it - stuck like Obama on the false notion of their imagined intellectual superiority when in fact they are manipulated Obots brainwashed by their leftist college professors and media.

deadright

Nov 26, 2009

I think these polls are crunched to favor BO. Let's bring back the misery index to show the true effect of his demonstrated lack of executive expertise. HST said, "the buck stops here". Time BO practiced it.

Nov 27, 2009

Reagan fell below 40% and Bush fell down to 25%.

What the article also failed to mention is that Democrats and Republicans in Congress have lower ratings than the President. Talk show host ratings are less than 5%.

Publius

Nov 27, 2009

Conservatives are premature in rejoicing. Most presidents lose support once in office. The GOP remain committed to the policies that led to their defeat, still do not understand that Americans are against starting more unnecessary wars, are against corporate corruption and greed, would like to see the budget balanced and want responsible regulation of the financial industry and other industries needing it. The intellectual bankruptcy of the GOP is illustrated by its inability to come up with a health care plan to address either pre-existing conditions or the high price of Rx drugs here vs. Canada. Obama and his socialists will unfortunately be reelected due to the colossal stupidity of the GOP.

fred

Nov 27, 2009

Careful the supreme leader will be unhappy with your comments. Carter Stupid, a Worldly Coward, this man would run a McDonald's restaurant into the ground with his management style. Hope and Change, phooey he is a phoney!!!

Tactical Dave

Nov 27, 2009

Our so-called president only looks at the polls to see if he needs to come up with new lies.

He really just spends his time shooting hoops, chain-smoking, watching movies about himself, and avoiding any real decisions.

amazed

Nov 27, 2009

I'm overwhelmed with wonder that the ratings are that high. Of course, everyone wanting a hand a hand out is
going to support him. That comes
as no surprise. I talk to a lot of
young people and none of them would vote
for him today.

subfuggy

Nov 27, 2009

Jailing people for not getting government health care? Wow! What a peaceful man. He really earned the Nobel Peace Prize?

texgent

Nov 29, 2009

just remember...elections have consequences. Had Boehner, McConnell, et al not spent money like drunken sailors we wouldn't be here today. And to listen to them now they are the clarions of fiscal sanity in DC...a pox on both sides of this trainwreck.

So long as grown men (and women) can make a career out of spending other peoples money we are doomed to see this comedy repeat itself.

A French philosopher said (I think in te 1800's) "The only thing more amazing than the fact that politicains lie is that people continue to believe them.)

david

Nov 30, 2009

the bush administration overspent (against my opinion) but with the democrats blessing. the obama administration is even worst. at least the republicans are now getting the picture. the obama tax and spend liberals are only popular with rich elitists and non-producers.

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Nov 30, 2009

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Inside the numbers: How Obama has fallen

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
11/24/09 10:03 AM EST