Half of PA Voters Want to Dump Obama, Poll Says
Half of Pennsylvania voters believe President Obama does not deserve a second term, according to a new poll by Susquehanna Polling & Research.
Half of PA Voters Want to Dump Obama, Poll Says
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
If President Obama got a “bounce” from the killing of Osama bin Laden among Pennsylvania voters, the benefit has since melted away.
A poll released Thursday by Susquehanna Polling & Research finds that the president is “upside down” in the state, with 48 percent of voters disapproving of his performance and 41 percent approving. The negative rating is 3 percentage points higher than the firm’s same poll in March.
The big problem for Obama: defections among Democrats. Voters in Obama’s own party rate his performance at 61 percent positive to 30 percent negative – compared to March’s 69-21 percent ratio.
The automoated telephone poll of 1,406 registered voters statewide was conducted from May 30 through June 2, a time period that coincided with a flood of negative reports on the economy and turmoil in the stock markets. Not surprisingly, 50 percent of respondents said the economy in Pennsylvania had worsened over the past 12 months, while 16 percent said it had improved. Thirty-five percent rated the economy about the same as a year ago.
On the re-elect question, 43 percent of Pennsylvania voters say that Obama deserves a second term, while 50 percent say that it is “time to give someone else a chance.”
Wrote Jim Lee, president of SP&R: “The fact that 1 in 2 voters are looking for someone else suggests that President Obama has little room to grow and that Pennsylvania will again be a toss-up state in next year’s presidential election, particularly if the slow economic recovery continues to haunt the president.”
Susquehanna Polling & Research is a Republican-oriented firm based in Harrisburg, Pa. Results are subject to an error margin of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
If Obama would stop listening to Tim Geithner and his banker-friendly economic policies, people wouldn't be so angry.— Susie from Philly- That's good news and bad news! 43% of our neighbors prefer a sidways economy, 9.1% unemployment and $4+ gas....Thank God at least 50% of the folks have had enough of that!— UncleSpamAlot
- I read somewhere a few days back a comment that I would consider and suggest for the rest of us to think about. Here it is... If you voted for Obama in 2008 just to prove that you are not a racist, you should vote against him in 2012 to prove that you are not an idiot.— hollandpa
- "If you're 25 and vote conservative, you don't have a heart. If you're 45 and vote liberal, you don't have a brain." - Winston Churchill — hotelguy
Comment removed.- Wow. A republican polling firm finds that many PA residents dont like a democrat in the white house...shocking!— tdoc
- Comment removed.
- The election of Barry was the most idiotic thing that ever happened in American politics. This guy has absolutely no idea what he's doing, about anything.— hotelguy
- Ultimately it depends on the opponent. Obama or Romney? Obama or Palin?
He might turn out to be the lesser of two evils in some minds.— Owatagoofiam - No big deal, I'm sure the Democrats in Philadelphia will rally up enough dead/phantom/duplicate "voters" to swing the state in 2012 - unless, perhaps, voter ID gets passed.— dminnich
- I'm a democrat and I don't want to vote for Obama. I'm surprised the republicans hate him so much, because by all measures, he's a moderate republican. Hostile to reproduictive rights (his health insurance reforms threw abortion rights under the bus). He didn't nationalize the banks, as he should have. He escalated the war in Afghanistan, everyone knows republicans like wars especially when someone else has to fight them. Just two days ago, the liberal new york times said his immigration policy is just like GW Bush's. And so are his warrantless wiretapping and whistleblower attacks: just like Bush. I don't understand why y'all hate him so much. He's one of you!— brendancalling
- While I am a Republican Committeeman, unless the Republicans can come up with a worthy candidate, Obama will win again. The Republicans cannot trot out an aging war veteran, a polarizing woman, or a multi-millionaire. They need a young, idealistic candidate that can understand what the country is experiencing and have a personality and intelligence to deal with it accordingly.— blackknight
- You're may be right, although its very likely that Romney will beat Obama anyway. The truth is, those candidates - Chris Christie and Marco Rubio - are waiting for 2016. In a way they are probably hoping Obama wins this time to clear the way for them in 2016. — hotelguy
- Add me to that list. Unless Obama does a fast U-turn to return to the progressive ideas he once proclaimed, like single-payer health care and an end to the wars, he won't get my vote. President Obama, get rid of Geithner and start listening to those who speak for the people, like Elizabeth Warren and Gretchen Morgenson and BErnie Sanders. .— farhorizons
- OK. I have 2 phones and 4 email address.. Nobody called me!!!! Who are they calling? And why so much hatred for Obama? He HAD to do things to keep the US afloat after a certain republican president put the US in a big hole. its funny back in 2008 when Obama accepted the presidency in Chicago, he said and I quote "I will have to make decisions that everyone might not like, but it has to be done." Regarding healthcare reform, do you know that youdo not have to pay a copay for any of your preventive services, well child care, adult physicals, OBGYN exams, cancer screening.. Those services are free.. No lifetime maximum. Insurance companies used to charge 1 million or 2 million dollars... Doing away with pre-existing clause in 2013... Everything I just threw out there helps out about 95% of Americans... HELLO????????? Are yall hearing me??????? Or people dont like him because he's not American? or Black? I would pefer someone who got A's in college instead of someone who got D's and another lady who only went to community college of Alaska and did not graduate.. Hello??????— Cool 1
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
