CBS NEWS POLL

For release: Thursday, August 26, 2010

6:30 PM EDT

THE ECONOMY, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE PRESIDENT

August 20-24, 2010

• Views of the economy remain bleak: 4 in 5 think it is bad, and now a third say it is getting
worse, an increase since last month. And while most think it will eventually recover,
more than a third think it is in permanent decline.

• Fewer than half of Americans approve of the job President Barack Obama is doing,
although that is up slightly since last month. Nearly as many disapprove.

• Americans are divided as to whether the law should be changed so that babies born to
illegal immigrants do not automatically become U.S. citizens. Most Republicans think
the law should be changed, while most Democrats think it should not.

CONTINUED PESSIMISM ABOUT THE ECONOMY

Americans are more pessimistic about the country’s economy than they were last month. 34%
now say the economy is getting worse, up from 26% last month. Only 20% say the economy is
getting better.

Is the Economy Getting:

Now 7/2010
Better 20% 25%
Worse 34 26
Same 44 48

Americans’ overall rating of the economy has been stagnant this summer: eight in ten say it is
bad, and that negativity hasn’t budged.

The U.S. Economy is…

Now 7/2010 6/2010 5/2010
Good 17% 17% 22% 20%
Bad 83 82 77 79

A majority (75%) thinks the recession will continue another two years or more, similar to last
month.

Americans’ long term views are more optimistic. Over one-third of Americans (37%) think the
current recession is part of a permanent decline in the U.S. economy, but more -- 59% -- think
things will eventually recover.

The U.S. Economy…

Will eventually recover 59%
Is in permanent decline 37

In pinning the blame for the country’s high unemployment rate, Americans are more apt to
volunteer that politicians generally are at fault. More blame the policies of the former President
Bush than those of President Obama.
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 Who or What is to Blame for High Unemployment?
Politicians in government 18%
Policies of Pres. Bush 15
Outsourcing 7
Business executives/CEOs 7
Policies of Pres. Obama 5
Banks 5
Recession/bad economy 5

40% of Americans are very concerned that someone in their household may lose a job over the
next year; up from 31% last month.

The tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush are set to expire soon; a majority of
Americans that say those tax cuts should expire for people earning over $250,000 per year.

Should Tax Cuts for $250k+ Be Allowed to Expire?

Yes, expire 56%
No, make permanent 36

Democrats favor letting them expire, while Republicans divide. 48% of Republicans say the tax
cuts should expire, while 46% think they should be made permanent.

In assessing the U.S. economy, Americans see a system that favors the few: 62% say only
those at the top now have a chance to prosper and get ahead, while 35% still think anyone has
a chance to get ahead.

Who Can Get Ahead In Today’s Economy?

Only those at the top 62%
Anyone has a fair chance 35

THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS

Three in four Americans think President Obama has a vision of where he wants to lead the
country. Fewer, but still a majority, think Republicans in Congress have a vision for the country.

Has a Vision of Where They Want to Take the Country?

Pres. Obama Reps in Congress
Yes 77% 54%
No 19 40

And despite the Obama administration’s plan to allow tax cuts to expire for those earning $250K or
more, 27% of Americans see the administration’s policies as favoring the rich; more than the
middle class (18%) or the poor (17%). Still, 28% say the Obama administration’s policies treat all
groups equally.

Economic Group Obama Administration‘s Policies Favor

Now 4/2010
Rich 27% 17%
Middle class 18 19
Poor 17 27
Treats all same 28 27

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Republicans are more likely to say the administration’s policies favor the rich, while Democrats say
the policies treat all groups the same.

President Obama’s overall job approval rating has remained below 50% since April, and this month
is no different. Now, 48% approve, while 44% disapprove. His approval rating has inched up from
44% last month, and is similar to what it was in June.

President Obama’s Overall Job Rating

Now 7/2010 6/2010 4/2010 3/2010 2/2010
Approve 48% 44% 47% 51% 44% 46%
Disapprove 44 44 43 39 41 45

The president continues to receive net negative ratings on this handling of the economy – the
nation’s top concern. On Afghanistan, his approval rating has held steady at 43%. On the specific
issues asked about in this poll, President Obama receives his highest approval rating on his
handling of Iraq – 52% of Americans approve of his handling of that issue.

President Obama’s Job Approval Ratings

Approve Disapprove
Iraq 52% 37
Terrorism 51% 37
Economy 44% 48
Afghanistan 43% 39

Congressional approval remains low. 22% approve, while 71% disapprove.

Congress Job Approval

Now 6/2010 5/2010 1/2010 3/2009 10/2008
Approve 22% 19% 15% 23% 30% 12%
Disapprove 71 70 77 63 56 74

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

The American public is almost evenly divided as to whether current law, which gives all children
born in the United States automatic U.S. citizenship, should be changed so that children of
illegal immigrants born in the United States do not automatically become citizens. 49% say the
law should be kept as is, while 47% say it should be changed so that children born to illegal
immigrants do not automatically become citizens.

59% of Democrats think the law should stay as is, while 54% of Republicans it should be
changed so that children born to illegal immigrants do not automatically become U.S. citizens.

Law That Gives Children Born in the U.S. Automatic Citizenship Should Be…
All Reps Dems Inds
Kept as is 49% 39% 59% 47%
Changed 47 54 37 49

Most Americans continue to see illegal immigration as a very serious problem in the U.S. – a
view that has held steady over the past four years.

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 Illegal Immigration Is a…
Now 5/2010 4/2010 12/2007 10/2006
Very serious problem 61% 56% 65% 57% 54%
Somewhat serious problem 27 28 24 32 29
Not too serious/not a problem 11 14 10 11 17

And 77% of Americans think the U.S. could be doing more to stop illegal immigrants from
entering the country. Fewer than one in five thinks the U.S. is doing all it can.

U.S. Doing All It Can To Stop Illegal Immigration?

Now 4/2010
Yes, doing all it can 19% 17
Could be doing more 77 78

Still, about half of Americans think illegal immigrants take jobs that Americans don’t want. Fewer
– 39% - say illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans. Views on this have been fairly
consistent over the last few years.

Illegal Immigrants Take Jobs…

Now 7/2010 5/2007 5/2006
Away from Americans 39% 42% 30% 36%
That Americans don’t want 51 50 59 53

59% of Americans see Arizona’s recent immigration law – which gives police the power to
question someone they have already stopped, detained, or arrested about their legal status in
the country, and requires people to produce documents verifying their status if asked – as about
right. 26% think the law goes too far, and 14% say it does not go far enough. These opinions
are similar to last month.

New Arizona Law on Illegal Immigration

Now 7/2010 5/2010
Goes too far 26% 23% 28%
Doesn’t go far enough 14 17 17
About right 59 57 52

SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND GAYS IN THE MILITARY

Recently, a federal judicial ruling overturned a California law banning same-sex marriage in that
state. Nationwide, 40% of Americans think gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry
legally, while three in ten think they should be able to form civil unions. A quarter say gay and
lesbian couples should have no legal recognition. While the percentage that supports same-sex
marriage is the same as it was in the spring, the number that believes gay and lesbian couple
should be allowed to form civil unions has risen six points.

Should Gay and Lesbian Couples Be Allowed To…?

Now 4/2010 4/2009
Legally marry 40% 39% 42%
Form civil unions 30 24 25
Have no legal recognition 25 30 28

There has been little change in Americans’ views of gays and lesbians serving in the United
States military. Three in four Americans favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve, similar to
February. 61% of Americans who have served or are currently serving in the military agree.

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 Gays and Lesbians in the Military
All Americans Served in Military
Favor 75% 61%
Oppose 19 31

A smaller majority of Americans think gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the
military, which would nullify the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. 64% favor allowing gays and
lesbians to serve openly, while 28% oppose.

SARAH PALIN AND THE TEA PARTY

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin continues to receive unfavorable ratings from the
American public overall; but Republicans, conservatives and those who identify themselves as
supporters of the Tea Party movement hold net positive opinions of her.

23% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Sarah Palin, while 40% view her unfavorably.
More than a third of the public is undecided or hasn’t heard enough to offer an opinion. Fewer
Americans now hold a favorable view of Sarah Palin than in April, but her ratings are similar to
what they were in March and last summer, shortly after she stepped down as Governor.

Views of Sarah Palin

Now 4/2010 3/2010 1/2010 7/2009
Favorable 23% 30% 24% 26% 23%
Unfavorable 40 45 38 41 37
Undecided/
Haven’t heard enough 35 24 37 32 39

45% of Republicans, 41% of conservatives, and 49% of Tea Partiers hold favorable opinions of
Sarah Palin.

On the other hand, Democrats (62%), moderates (44%) and liberals (61%) hold decidedly
negative views of the former Vice Presidential nominee.

29% of Americans say they are supporters of the Tea Party movement, similar to the
percentage last month, but higher than in April of this year.

Support of the Tea Party Movement

Now 7/2010 4/2010
Yes 29% 27% 18%
No 54 56 62

56% of Tea Party supporters say they are conservative. 44% are Republicans, while 43% are
independents. Few – just 13% - identify themselves as Democrats.

___________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,082 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone
August 20-24, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-
line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or
minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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CBS NEWS POLL
Economy, Illegal Immigration and the President
August 20-24, 2010

q1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Jul10b
% % % % %
Approve 48 17 79 42 44
Disapprove 44 78 17 45 44
DK/NA 8 5 4 13 12

q2 BLANK
q3 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
q4 BLANK

q5 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?

Approve 44 13 77 36 40
Disapprove 48 84 18 51 54
DK/NA 8 3 5 13 6

q6 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation with
Afghanistan?

Approve 43 28 63 37 43
Disapprove 39 52 26 41 44
DK/NA 18 20 11 22 13

q7 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation with
Iraq?

Mar10c1
Approve 52 34 72 46 49
Disapprove 37 57 20 38 34
DK/NA 11 9 8 16 17

q8 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat of
terrorism?
May10c
Approve 51 27 79 42 50
Disapprove 37 62 14 40 38
DK/NA 12 11 7 18 12

q9 BLANK

q10 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Jun10b
Approve 22 13 38 15 19
Disapprove 71 80 55 77 70
DK/NA 7 7 7 8 11

q11 RELEASED SEPARATELY

q12 BLANK

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q13 How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good,
fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Jul10b
% % % % %
Very good 2 2 3 0 2
Fairly good 15 10 24 10 15
Fairly bad 42 39 45 42 50
Very bad 41 48 28 46 32
DK/NA 0 1 0 2 1

q14 Do you think the economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

Better 20 14 30 16 25
Worse 34 43 21 38 26
Same 44 43 46 44 48
DK/NA 2 0 3 2 1

q15 How much longer do you think the effects of the recession will last--six months, a
year, two years, or more than two years?

Six months 3 3 4 2 3
A year 16 15 19 13 17
Two years 23 24 21 24 24
More than 2 years 52 54 51 53 51
Don't know/No answer 6 4 5 8 5

q16 Thinking more generally about the U.S. economy, which comes closer to your view? 1.
The current recession is a temporary downturn and eventually the U.S. economy will fully
recover, or 2. The current recession is part of a long-term permanent decline and the
U.S. economy will never fully recover?

Temporary downturn 59 52 65 59
Permanent & won't recover 37 46 33 35
DK/NA 4 2 2 6

q17 Which comes closer to your view? 1. In today's economy, everyone has a fair chance to
get ahead in the long run, or 2. In today's economy, it’s mainly just a few people at the
top who have a chance to get ahead?

Anyone can get ahead 35 43 35 29

Only those at the top can 62 53 63 68
DK/NA 3 4 2 3

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q18 Who or what do you think is most to blame for the current high unemployment rate in
the U.S.?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Dec09a
% % % % %
Politicians/gov't 18 18 13 23 14
G.W.Bush/policies 15 8 23 13 20
Outsourcing 7 7 6 8 9
Business execs/CEO's 7 4 11 5 4
Barack Obama/policies 5 10 1 5 4
Banks 5 7 4 5 9
Recession/bad economy 5 11 4 2 2
Wall Street 4 4 4 4 3
War-related issues 2 1 3 2 --
Other 14 13 11 16 18
DK/NA 18 17 20 17 17

q19 RELEASED SEPARATELY

q20 BLANK

q21 Is your opinion of Michelle Obama favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you
heard enough about Michelle Obama yet to have an opinion?

Sep09b
Favorable 45 25 65 41 50
Not favorable 11 24 4 10 7
Undecided 22 26 14 25 15
Haven't heard enough 19 21 16 21 26
Refused 3 4 1 3 2

q22 Do you think Barack Obama has a vision of where he wants to lead the country, or not?

Yes 77 69 89 72
No 19 29 8 23
DK/NA 4 2 3 5

q23 Do you think Republicans in Congress have a vision of where they want to lead the
country, or not?

Yes 54 71 48 48
No 40 25 45 45
DK/NA 6 4 7 7

q24-25 BLANK

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q26 As you may know, under current law, all children born in the U.S. are automatically
U.S. citizens. Do you think that the law should be kept as is, or should the law be
changed so that children if illegal immigrants born in the U.S. do not automatically
become citizens?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Law should be kept as is 49 39 59 47
Law should be changed 47 54 37 49
DK/NA 4 7 4 4

q27 In general, do you think the policies of the Obama Administration favor the rich,
favor the middle class, favor the poor, or do they treat all groups equally?

Apr10a
Favor the rich 27 39 18 27 17
Favor the middle class 18 13 29 13 19
Favor the poor 17 25 5 23 27
Treat all equally 28 10 44 25 27
DK/NA 10 13 4 12 10

q28 The tax cuts passed in 2001 are set to expire this year for households earning about
$250,000 a year or more. This would increase federal income taxes for those people.
Should those tax cuts be made permanent or should they be allowed to expire?

Made permanent 36 46 23 40
Allowed to expire 56 48 69 51
Depends (Vol.) 1 1 1 2
DK/NA 7 5 7 7

q29 BLANK
q30-q31 RELEASED SEPARATELY
q32-35 BLANK
q36-46 RELEASED SEPARATELY
q47 BLANK
q48 RELEASED SEPARATELY
q49 BLANK

q50 How serious a problem do you think the issue of ILLEGAL immigration is for the
country right now -- very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all
serious?

May10c
%
Very serious 61 78 45 62 56
Somewhat serious 27 17 36 27 28
Not too serious 8 3 14 7 10
Not at all serious 3 2 4 4 4
DK/NA 1 0 1 0 2

q51 BLANK

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q52 Do you think illegal immigrants coming into this country take jobs away from American
citizens, or do they mostly take jobs Americans don't want?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Jul10b
% % % % %
Take jobs away 39 46 35 37 42
Take jobs Americans don't 51 42 57 51 50
Both (Vol.) 8 11 5 10 6
DK/NA 2 1 3 2 2

q53 Do you think the U.S. is doing all it can reasonably be expected to do along its
borders to keep ILLEGAL immigrants from crossing into this country, or could the U.S. be
doing more?

Apr10b
Doing all it can 19 10 29 17 17
Could be doing more 77 87 65 80 78
DK/NA 4 3 6 3 5

q54 As you may know, the state of Arizona recently passed a law that gives the police the
power to question someone they have already stopped, detained, or arrested about their
legal status in the country. The law requires people to produce documents verifying their
status if asked, Do you think this law goes too far in dealing with the issue of ILLEGAL
immigration, doesn't go far enough, or is about right?

Jul10b
Too far 26 15 38 24 23
Not far enough 14 15 13 14 17
About right 59 69 48 60 57
DK/NA 1 1 1 2 3

q55-56 BLANK

q57 Which comes closest to your view? Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, OR
gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, OR there should
be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship?

Apr10a
Allowed to legally marry 40 25 46 44 39
Civil unions 30 34 27 29 24
No legal recognition 25 37 20 21 30
DK/NA 5 4 7 6 7

q58 Do you favor or oppose permitting gay men and lesbians to serve in the military? Do
you favor/oppose that strongly or not so strongly?

Feb10a
Favor strongly 54 39 63 55 51
Favor not so strongly 21 31 18 17 19
Oppose not so strongly 10 10 9 12 12
Oppose strongly 9 14 5 9 7
DK/NA 6 6 5 7 11

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q59 What if they openly announce their sexual orientation? in that case would you favor
or oppose permitting gay men and lesbians to serve in the military?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Favor 64 56 72 62
Oppose in q58 19 24 14 21
Oppose in q59 9 12 8 9
DK/NA 8 8 6 8

q60 Which of these comes closest to your view? Abortion should be generally available to
those who want it, abortion should be available but under stricter limits than it is now,
abortion should not be permitted?

Apr10a
Generally available 36 21 48 36 36
Available but limits 39 41 34 41 38
Should not be permitted 23 36 18 19 23
DK/NA 2 2 0 4 3

q61-63 BLANK
q64-66 RELEASED SEPARATELY
q67 BLANK
q68-69 RELEASED SEPARATELY
q70 BLANK
q71-74 RELEASED SEPARATELY
q75 BLANK
q76-77 RELEASED SEPARATELY

q78 Is your opinion of Sarah Palin favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you
heard enough about Sarah Palin yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 23 45 6 22 30
Not favorable 40 20 62 36 45
Undecided 20 22 20 18 17
Haven't heard enough 15 12 11 20 7
Refused 2 1 1 4 1

q79-81 BLANK

q82 How concerned are you that in the next 12 months you or someone else in your
household might be out of work and looking for a job - - very concerned, somewhat
concerned, or not concerned at all?

Jul10b
Very concerned 40 33 44 43 31
Somewhat concerned 30 36 31 25 29
Not at all concerned 29 31 24 32 39
DK/NA 1 0 1 0 1

q83-84 HELD FOR RELEASE

q85 BLANK

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q86 Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or not?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
*** Party ID ***
Total Rep Dem Ind Jul10b
% % % % %
Yes 29 49 11 31 27
No 54 34 73 51 56
DK/NA 17 17 16 18 17

UNWEIGHTED WEIGHTED
Total Respondents 1082

Total Republicans 312 282

Total Democrats 353 362
Total Independents 417 438

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