NYT Poll Continues Theme: Control the Deficit

Economy pulls down numbers

(NEWSER) - Concerns over the economy are weighing down President Obama’s poll numbers, which have fallen to their lowest point since his inauguration, Politico reports. Obama’s 57% approval rating in a Gallup tracking poll this weekend remains high, but a series of recent polls find his support falling among Republicans and independents—and even Democrats worried about his economic policies. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama remains a popular president—75% of poll respondents like him personally—but a new survey by the Wall Street Journal and NBC finds growing worry about his financial policies and the deficit in particular. Overall, Obama's approval rating fell to 56%, down 5 points from April. Nearly 7 in 10 are concerned about the scope of the federal government's interventions to shore up the economy, especially its GM bailout. More»

Prez lauded on foreign policy, economy, but not from GOP voters

(NEWSER) - President Obama's approval ratings are at the highest since he took office, according to the latest CBS News/New York Times poll. Of those surveyed, 66% approve of how Obama is handling the job, up two points from last month, and 67% said they believed world leaders respected the US president, up from just 30% when the question was asked in 2006. More»

Federal spending is rising at slowest rate since '50s, report finds

(NEWSER) - Republicans are trying to fool the country into believing that they are the party of fiscal responsibility, President Obama told a fundraiser yesterday. "I’m running to pay down our debt in a way that’s balanced and responsible. After inheriting a $1 trillion deficit, I signed $2 trillion of spending cuts into law,” he told donors in Denver. "My opponent won’t admit it, but it’s starting to appear in places, like real liberal outlets, like the Wall Street Journal," he quipped. "Since I’ve been president, federal spending has risen at the lowest pace in nearly 60 years. Think about that.” More»

Even though 'there is no deal' yet

(NEWSER) - The House must move to raise the debt ceiling by Wednesday, John Boehner told a closed House GOP meeting. First, of course, a deal must be struck, and as yet, “there is no deal. There is no agreement in private,” Boehner told the press, and leaders aren’t “close” to one. The House, however, has “done its job” in seeking agreement, he said, and the Senate needs to do its part, the AP notes. Meanwhile, progress reports continue to conflict sharply. More»