CBS NEWS POLL

President Obama and Issues Facing the Country

July 29-August 2, 2015
Q1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Approve
Disapprove
Dont know/No answer

* TOTAL RESPONDENTS *
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
44
11
78
40
47
86
15
45
9
3
7
15

May15c
%
42
48
10

Q3. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?
Economy & jobs
22
Immigration/illegal immigrants
7
Health care/health insurance
4
Terrorism (general)
4
Racism/race relations
3
Miscellaneous social issues
3
Foreign policy/foreign affairs
3
Barack Obama/the president
3
Moral values/family values
3
Budget/national debt/deficit/surplus
3
Poverty/homelessness/hunger
2
Education/school loans
2
Miscellaneous government issues
2
Income gap
2
Crime/violence (general)
2
Islamic extremists groups/Al Qaeda/ISIS 2
Homeland security
2
Other
24
Don't know/No answer
7

26
7
4
5
2
1
3
6
7
4
*
1
3
*
*
3
3
22
3

19
7
5
4
4
3
1
*
1
1
3
2
2
4
3
1
1
28
11

22
6
2
3
3
3
4
3
1
3
1
3
1
2
1
2
1
31
8

17
5
6
2
2
4
2
2
4
4
4
3
5
3
2
1
29
5

Q5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
Approve
Disapprove
Dont know/No answer

44
49
7

10
84
7

75
19
6

43
49
8

45
49
5

Q6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat of terrorism?

Approve
Disapprove
Dont know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
42
13
70
40
48
81
20
47
10
6
10
13

Mar15c
%
42
50
8

Q7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation with ISIS militants in Iraq and
Syria?
Approve
Disapprove
Dont know/No answer

34
52
14

9
84
7

59
26
15

31
51
18

36
53
12

Q8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling relations with Iran?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

37
49
14

11
80
9

65
21
14

34
48
17

38
47
15

Q9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Approve
Disapprove
Dont know/No answer

17
74
9

18
69
12

18
74
8

15
76
9

May15c
15
78
8

Q10. How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad or
very bad?
Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Dont know/No answer

4
44
33
18
1

2
31
44
21
2

5
58
23
13
1

5
42
33
19
2

5
40
36
18
1

Q11. Do you think the economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Better
Worse
Same
Dont know/No answer

28
25
45
1

13
33
52
1

42
15
40
2

28
27
45
1

27
27
46
*

Q12-Q13 Released separately

Q14. Do you think Barack Obama has strong qualities of leadership, or not?

Has
Doesnt have
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
55
22
85
55
43
76
15
42
2
3
1
3

Jan15b
%
54
44
2

Q15. Do you think Barack Obama has the same priorities for the country as you have, or doesn't he?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

41
53
5

10
87
3

74
22
3

38
54
8

44
52
4

Q16-Q54 Released separately

Q55. Do you feel that the distribution of money and wealth in this country is fair, or do you feel that the money and
wealth in this country should be more evenly distributed among more people?

Fair
Should be more even
Don't know/No answer

30
63
7

51
42
7

11
87
2

29
60
10

May15c
27
66
7

Q56 Released separately

Q57. How would you say things are going for the U.S. in its fight against the militant group ISIS in Iraq and Syria? Would
you say things are going very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?

Very well
Somewhat well
Somewhat badly
Very badly
Don't know/No answer

2
26
36
28
8

1
14
38
44
3

4
37
34
16
9

2
26
36
26
11

Apr15d
2
25
34
30
8

Q58. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. sending ground troops into Iraq or Syria to fight ISIS militants?

Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

46
45
9

60
31
9

38
55
8

43
48
10

Mar15c
43
46
10

Q59-Q61 Released separately

Q62a. In general, do you think laws covering the sale of guns should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are
now?

More strict
Less strict
Kept as they are
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
52
31
77
48
13
21
4
16
32
47
18
33
2
2
1
3

Feb14b
%
54
9
36
1

Q62b. Do you favor or oppose a federal law requiring background checks on all potential gun buyers?

Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

88
10
1

81
17
1

93
6
1

89
9
2

Dec13b
85
12
3

Q62c. How much do you think stricter gun laws would do to help prevent gun violence? Would stricter laws help a lot,
some, not much, or not at all?

A lot
Some
Not much
Not at all
Don't know/No answer

27
25
16
31
1

12
18
20
50
*

45
33
12
10
*

23
25
16
34
2

Dec13b
27
29
18
25
2

Q63. Recently, Iran and a group of six countries led by the United States reached an agreement to limit Irans ability to
make nuclear weapons for more than a decade in return for lifting economic sanctions against Iran. From what youve
heard or read so far, do you approve or disapprove of the recent agreement with Iran, or dont you know enough about
it yet to say?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know enough yet
Don't know/No answer

20
33
46
1

6
58
36
*

32
15
52
1

19
31
48
2

Q64-Q65 Cut
Q66. Do you think (the United States could have negotiated an agreement that was more favorable to the United
States), or do you think (this was the best agreement the United States could have negotiated with Iran at this time)?
Could have had a better agreement
Best agreement possible
Don't know/No answer

53
26
21

71
16
12

41
38
21

50
24
26

Q67 Cut

Q68. How effective do you think the recent agreement with Iran will be in preventing Iran from developing a nuclear
weapon? Very effective, somewhat effective, not very effective, or not at all effective?
Very effective
Somewhat effective
Not very effective
Not at all effective
Don't know/No answer

Total Respondents
Total Republicans
Total Democrats
Total Independents
Total Registered Voters

9
29
21
32
10

3
16
22
54
5

UNWEIGHTED
1252

13
43
21
14
10

9
28
20
30
13

WEIGHTED

353
372
527

330
370
553

1047

962