Interviewing: November 19-22, 2011
Sample: 1000 Adults nationwide online
719 registered voters nationwide online
806 D Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Contact:
Thomas Riehle
Ph: (202) 544-2550
The Economist/YouGov Poll
2011 Weekly Tracking
For immediate release
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
1. Approval of Obama as President Historical
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
All Adults
November 19-22, 2011
November 12-15, 2011
November 5-8, 2011
October 29-November 1, 2011
October 22-25, 2011
October 15-18, 2011
October 8-11, 2011
October 1-4, 2011
September 24-27, 2011
September 17-20, 2011
July 23-26, 2011
One Year Ago
Total
Approve
Total
Disapprove
Strongly
Approve
Somewhat
Approve
Somewhat
Disapprove
Strongly
Disapprove
Not
Sure
39%
43%
42%
41%
42%
38%
39%
39%
39%
36%
42%
43%
56%
51%
52%
52%
49%
53%
53%
53%
53%
56%
48%
51%
13%
14%
14%
16%
16%
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
16%
18%
26%
29%
28%
25%
26%
24%
25%
25%
25%
22%
26%
25%
16%
17%
15%
15%
14%
15%
12%
17%
15%
16%
14%
15%
40%
34%
37%
37%
35%
38%
41%
36%
38%
40%
34%
36%
6%
6%
7%
8%
9%
8%
8%
8%
8%
9%
10%
6%
Registered Voters
November 19-22, 2011
November 12-15, 2011
November 5-8, 2011
October 29-November 1, 2011
October 22-25, 2011
October 15-18, 2011
October 8-11, 2011
October 1-4, 2011
September 24-27, 2011
September 17-20, 2011
July 23-26, 2011
One Year Ago
Total
Approve
Total
Disapprove
Strongly
Approve
Somewhat
Approve
Somewhat
Disapprove
Strongly
Disapprove
Not
Sure
42%
47%
44%
44%
44%
42%
44%
43%
41%
38%
44%
43%
56%
50%
53%
52%
53%
54%
53%
53%
57%
58%
52%
55%
15%
15%
18%
19%
18%
17%
18%
17%
15%
16%
17%
20%
27%
32%
26%
25%
26%
25%
26%
26%
26%
22%
27%
23%
14%
16%
15%
13%
12%
11%
10%
14%
15%
14%
12%
15%
42%
34%
38%
39%
41%
43%
43%
39%
42%
44%
40%
40%
3%
3%
3%
4%
3%
4%
4%
4%
2%
3%
4%
2%
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
Obama Approval
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way
Barack Obama is handling his job as President?"
70
Disapprove: 56%
Percent of Respondents
60
50
40
30
Approve: 39%
20
10
2009
2010
2011
Figure 1: Obama Approval All Adults
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
Obama Approval
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way
Barack Obama is handling his job as President?"
70
Percent of Registered Voters
Disapprove: 56%
60
50
40
Approve: 42%
30
20
10
2009
2010
2011
Figure 2: Obama Approval Registered Voters
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
2. Approval of Obama as President This Week
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
Age
Total
Strongly Approve
Somewhat
Approve
Somewhat
Disapprove
Strongly
Disapprove
Not Sure
Totals
(Unweighted)
18-29
30-64
Race
65+
White
Totals
(Unweighted)
Hispanic
Male
Female
Education
HS or Less
Some College
College Grad
13.0%
13.1%
12.6%
13.9%
9.7%
33.9%
17.8%
13.5%
12.5%
10.0%
14.8%
16.0%
25.7%
29.5%
26.1%
19.0%
24.1%
33.0%
31.6%
26.7%
24.7%
23.3%
28.2%
26.7%
15.7%
20.7%
16.3%
6.8%
15.2%
15.3%
21.7%
12.9%
18.2%
18.8%
14.2%
12.0%
39.9%
5.8%
25.4%
11.3%
40.0%
4.9%
59.2%
1.2%
45.4%
5.6%
9.2%
8.6%
25.6%
3.2%
43.3%
3.6%
36.8%
7.7%
41.3%
6.7%
35.3%
7.4%
43.0%
2.3%
100.0%
(996)
100.0%
(171)
100.0%
(687)
100.0%
(138)
100.0%
(806)
100.0%
(122)
100.0%
(68)
100.0%
(470)
100.0%
(526)
100.0%
(379)
100.0%
(338)
100.0%
(279)
Party ID
Strongly Approve
Somewhat
Approve
Somewhat
Disapprove
Strongly
Disapprove
Not Sure
Black
Gender
Total
Dem
13.0%
30.1%
25.7%
Rep
Ideology
Region
Con
Northeast
Midwest
Family Income
Ind
Lib
Mod
South
1.4%
7.6%
29.8%
13.1%
5.3%
13.0%
15.0%
12.0%
41.9%
4.0%
32.1%
47.2%
36.0%
6.1%
33.8%
22.4%
15.7%
12.5%
16.2%
17.0%
12.3%
19.3%
11.7%
16.5%
39.9%
5.8%
11.3%
4.2%
77.7%
0.8%
37.4%
5.8%
7.8%
3.0%
26.1%
5.6%
75.8%
1.2%
100.0%
(996)
100.0%
(343)
100.0%
(250)
100.0%
(299)
100.0%
(197)
100.0%
(374)
100.0%
(299)
West
Under 40
40-100
100+
12.6%
11.1%
14.0%
16.9%
25.7%
22.6%
25.5%
28.7%
21.7%
15.7%
15.8%
14.8%
18.0%
14.9%
13.8%
31.4%
5.3%
41.1%
5.9%
39.6%
6.8%
45.6%
4.3%
37.7%
7.8%
37.3%
5.1%
47.6%
100.0%
(171)
100.0%
(232)
100.0%
(361)
100.0%
(232)
100.0%
(391)
100.0%
(356)
100.0%
(153)
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
3. Approval of U.S. Congress Historical
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way that the United States Congress is handling its job?
All Adults
November 19-22, 2011
November 12-15, 2011
November 5-8, 2011
October 29-November 1, 2011
October 22-25, 2011
October 15-18, 2011
October 8-11, 2011
October 1-4, 2011
September 24-27, 2011
September 17-20, 2011
July 23-26, 2011
One Year Ago
Total
Approve
Total
Disapprove
Strongly
Approve
Somewhat
Approve
Neutral
Somewhat
Disapprove
Strongly
Disapprove
Not
Sure
8%
7%
10%
9%
8%
7%
7%
8%
7%
11%
13%
11%
70%
69%
65%
68%
67%
68%
71%
69%
70%
65%
63%
69%
1%
2%
1%
2%
1%
1%
2%
1%
1%
2%
3%
1%
7%
5%
9%
7%
7%
6%
5%
7%
6%
9%
10%
10%
16%
14%
16%
11%
14%
16%
11%
16%
13%
16%
14%
12%
24%
26%
22%
22%
24%
24%
22%
24%
23%
21%
26%
22%
46%
43%
43%
46%
43%
44%
49%
45%
47%
44%
37%
47%
7%
9%
10%
12%
10%
9%
11%
8%
9%
9%
9%
7%
Registered Voters
November 19-22, 2011
November 12-15, 2011
November 5-8, 2011
October 29-November 1, 2011
October 22-25, 2011
October 15-18, 2011
October 8-11, 2011
October 1-4, 2011
September 24-27, 2011
September 17-20, 2011
July 23-26, 2011
One Year Ago
Total
Approve
Total
Disapprove
Strongly
Approve
Somewhat
Approve
Neutral
Somewhat
Disapprove
Strongly
Disapprove
Not
Sure
7%
7%
10%
8%
10%
8%
8%
9%
10%
12%
12%
12%
75%
76%
72%
76%
75%
75%
79%
74%
75%
71%
70%
75%
1%
1%
2%
2%
1%
1%
3%
1%
2%
2%
1%
1%
6%
6%
8%
6%
9%
7%
5%
8%
8%
10%
11%
11%
13%
12%
13%
10%
10%
11%
8%
12%
11%
12%
14%
10%
24%
27%
25%
24%
24%
26%
25%
23%
24%
22%
29%
23%
51%
49%
47%
52%
51%
49%
54%
51%
51%
49%
41%
52%
6%
5%
6%
6%
5%
5%
6%
4%
4%
5%
5%
3%
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
Congress Approval
"Do you approve of the way the
U.S. Congress is handling its job?"
Disapprove: 70%
80
Percent of Respondents
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Approve: 8%
0
2009
2010
2011
Figure 3: Congress Approval All Adults
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
Congress Approval
"Do you approve of the way the
U.S. Congress is handling its job?"
90
Disapprove: 75%
Percent of Registered Voters
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Approve: 7%
0
2009
2010
2011
Figure 4: Congress Approval Registered Voters
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
4. Approval of U.S. Congress This Week
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way that the United States Congress is handling its job?
Age
Total
Strongly approve
Somewhat
approve
Neither approve
nor disapprove
Somewhat
disapprove
Strongly
disapprove
Not sure
Totals
(Unweighted)
18-29
30-64
Race
65+
White
Male
Female
HS or Less
Some College
College Grad
0.4%
1.0%
0.3%
2.0%
2.9%
0.4%
0.9%
0.3%
1.3%
0.6%
6.5%
5.0%
7.8%
4.1%
5.4%
8.6%
15.1%
8.7%
4.5%
6.5%
7.1%
5.9%
15.7%
23.6%
15.3%
6.5%
14.3%
23.6%
19.7%
14.8%
16.6%
18.7%
16.2%
10.0%
24.2%
26.7%
22.6%
26.5%
25.2%
20.1%
20.0%
19.3%
28.8%
24.1%
26.4%
22.0%
45.7%
7.2%
34.7%
9.6%
46.8%
6.5%
56.6%
6.3%
47.3%
7.5%
37.7%
8.0%
39.5%
2.7%
53.9%
2.9%
38.1%
11.1%
40.3%
10.1%
42.0%
7.1%
59.4%
2.2%
100.0%
(998)
100.0%
(171)
100.0%
(689)
100.0%
(138)
100.0%
(808)
100.0%
(122)
100.0%
(68)
100.0%
(472)
100.0%
(526)
100.0%
(381)
100.0%
(338)
100.0%
(279)
Total
Totals
(Unweighted)
Hispanic
Education
0.7%
Party ID
Strongly approve
Somewhat
approve
Neither approve
nor disapprove
Somewhat
disapprove
Strongly
disapprove
Not sure
Black
Gender
Dem
Rep
Ideology
Ind
Lib
Mod
Region
Con
Northeast
Midwest
Family Income
South
West
Under 40
40-100
100+
0.7%
1.2%
0.6%
0.4%
0.5%
1.5%
0.3%
0.8%
1.1%
0.2%
0.6%
0.9%
0.5%
6.5%
8.5%
6.6%
6.1%
5.7%
6.5%
8.8%
8.1%
6.0%
6.9%
5.1%
6.4%
5.0%
10.8%
15.7%
16.9%
18.6%
11.1%
10.7%
19.0%
16.1%
15.5%
17.4%
16.6%
12.8%
20.3%
14.1%
9.2%
24.2%
20.2%
29.9%
24.2%
20.6%
22.1%
27.0%
30.3%
21.5%
25.1%
20.9%
23.8%
26.2%
24.4%
45.7%
7.2%
47.2%
5.9%
38.3%
6.1%
55.7%
2.4%
59.0%
3.9%
45.9%
5.9%
43.4%
3.2%
37.4%
8.3%
47.3%
7.0%
42.2%
8.0%
55.9%
5.1%
39.0%
9.8%
48.9%
4.9%
54.6%
0.5%
100.0%
(998)
100.0%
(344)
100.0%
(251)
100.0%
(299)
100.0%
(197)
100.0%
(375)
100.0%
(300)
100.0%
(172)
100.0%
(233)
100.0%
(361)
100.0%
(232)
100.0%
(392)
100.0%
(356)
100.0%
(154)
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
7. Direction of country Historical
Would you say things in this country today are...
All Adults
November 19-22, 2011
November 12-15, 2011
November 5-8, 2011
October 29-November 1, 2011
October 22-25, 2011
October 15-18, 2011
October 8-11, 2011
October 1-4, 2011
September 24-27, 2011
September 17-20, 2011
July 23-26, 2011
One Year Ago
Right
Track
Wrong
Direction
Not
Sure
15%
17%
15%
13%
17%
14%
13%
15%
12%
14%
16%
32%
74%
68%
72%
71%
68%
72%
72%
70%
72%
72%
70%
56%
11%
15%
13%
16%
15%
14%
15%
14%
15%
15%
15%
12%
Registered Voters
November 19-22, 2011
November 12-15, 2011
November 5-8, 2011
October 29-November 1, 2011
October 22-25, 2011
October 15-18, 2011
October 8-11, 2011
October 1-4, 2011
September 24-27, 2011
September 17-20, 2011
July 23-26, 2011
One Year Ago
Right
Track
Wrong
Direction
Not
Sure
16%
17%
15%
16%
18%
16%
15%
16%
12%
14%
14%
32%
74%
73%
74%
73%
70%
72%
72%
73%
76%
76%
73%
59%
10%
10%
10%
11%
12%
12%
13%
10%
12%
10%
13%
9%
10
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
Direction of Country
"Would you say things in this country today are
generally headed in the right direction
or off on the wrong track?"
Wrong: 74%
80
Percent of Respondents
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Right: 15%
0
2009
2010
2011
Figure 5: Direction of Country All Adults
11
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
Direction of Country
"Would you say things in this country today are
generally headed in the right direction
or off on the wrong track?"
90
Wrong: 74%
Percent of Registered Voters
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Right: 16%
0
2009
2010
2011
Figure 6: Direction of Country Registered Voters
12
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
8. Direction of Country This Week
Would you say things in this country today are...
Age
Total
Generally
headed in the
right direction
Off on the wrong
track
Not sure
Totals
(Unweighted)
18-29
30-64
Race
65+
White
Totals
(Unweighted)
Hispanic
Male
Female
Education
HS or Less
Some College
College Grad
14.9%
16.4%
14.5%
14.1%
11.7%
31.3%
24.8%
15.5%
14.4%
13.6%
18.6%
12.7%
74.4%
10.7%
69.4%
14.2%
73.7%
11.7%
83.7%
2.2%
77.7%
10.6%
57.1%
11.7%
65.4%
9.8%
76.7%
7.8%
72.3%
13.3%
75.2%
11.1%
69.8%
11.6%
78.5%
8.8%
100.0%
(995)
100.0%
(172)
100.0%
(688)
100.0%
(135)
100.0%
(804)
100.0%
(122)
100.0%
(69)
100.0%
(470)
100.0%
(525)
100.0%
(379)
100.0%
(338)
100.0%
(278)
Party ID
Generally
headed in the
right direction
Off on the wrong
track
Not sure
Black
Gender
Total
Dem
14.9%
29.2%
74.4%
10.7%
100.0%
(995)
Rep
Ideology
Region
Con
Northeast
Midwest
Family Income
Ind
Lib
Mod
South
3.0%
11.5%
27.4%
19.7%
5.4%
15.3%
14.5%
16.4%
58.5%
12.3%
93.4%
3.6%
80.3%
8.2%
62.5%
10.2%
70.1%
10.3%
91.7%
2.9%
70.0%
14.8%
74.1%
11.4%
100.0%
(342)
100.0%
(249)
100.0%
(299)
100.0%
(196)
100.0%
(375)
100.0%
(297)
100.0%
(172)
100.0%
(233)
West
Under 40
40-100
100+
12.6%
15.1%
16.2%
11.5%
73.8%
9.8%
79.0%
8.4%
73.9%
10.9%
73.5%
10.3%
85.5%
2.9%
100.0%
(359)
100.0%
(231)
100.0%
(389)
100.0%
(355)
100.0%
(154)
13
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
7. Congressional Vote Intention Historical
If an election for U.S. Congress were being held today, who would you vote for in the district where you live?
Registered Voters
November 19-22, 2011
November 12-15, 2011
November 5-8, 2011
October 29-November 1, 2011
October 22-25, 2011
October 15-18, 2011
October 8-11, 2011
October 1-4, 2011
September 24-27, 2011
September 17-20, 2011
The Democratic
Party candidate
The Republican
Party candidate
Other
Not sure
I would not vote
41%
40%
41%
39%
40%
41%
40%
40%
38%
40%
38%
37%
39%
36%
39%
37%
38%
38%
39%
41%
2%
2%
1%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
4%
3%
17%
20%
17%
19%
17%
17%
17%
18%
16%
13%
2%
1%
3%
4%
3%
3%
2%
2%
3%
3%
14
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
2012 Congressional Vote Intention
"If an election for U.S. Congress were being held today,
who would you vote for in the district where you live?"
Percent of Registered Voters
50
Democratic candidate: 41%
40
Republican candidate: 38%
30
August
2011
September
2011
October
2011
November
2011
Figure 7: Congressional Vote Intention Registered Voters
15
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
10. Congressional Vote Intention This Week
If an election for U.S. Congress were being held today, who would you vote for in the district where you live?
Asked of registered voters
Age
Total
The Democratic
Party candidate
The Republican
Party candidate
Other
Not sure
I would not vote
Totals
(Unweighted)
18-29
30-64
Race
65+
White
Totals
(Unweighted)
Hispanic
Male
Female
Education
HS or Less
Some College
College Grad
41.3%
41.9%
41.6%
40.0%
36.9%
65.5%
58.7%
41.1%
41.5%
39.9%
40.2%
44.0%
37.9%
1.7%
17.2%
1.9%
33.5%
1.9%
19.1%
3.7%
39.2%
2.0%
16.0%
1.2%
38.5%
0.6%
18.5%
2.4%
42.1%
1.9%
17.4%
1.6%
10.6%
0.5%
18.9%
4.5%
29.0%
10.6%
1.7%
45.1%
2.2%
11.3%
0.3%
31.4%
1.2%
22.5%
3.4%
36.8%
0.5%
20.3%
2.5%
38.1%
2.4%
16.4%
2.9%
38.8%
2.2%
14.7%
0.3%
100.0%
(811)
100.0%
(128)
100.0%
(558)
100.0%
(125)
100.0%
(644)
100.0%
(111)
100.0%
(56)
100.0%
(403)
100.0%
(408)
100.0%
(250)
100.0%
(301)
100.0%
(260)
Party ID
The Democratic
Party candidate
The Republican
Party candidate
Other
Not sure
I would not vote
Black
Gender
Total
Dem
41.3%
79.0%
37.9%
1.7%
17.2%
1.9%
100.0%
(811)
Rep
Ideology
Region
Con
Northeast
Midwest
Family Income
Ind
Lib
Mod
South
4.5%
39.3%
85.5%
44.7%
9.6%
44.1%
41.9%
43.1%
3.6%
0.8%
15.4%
1.1%
87.2%
0.4%
7.6%
0.3%
32.2%
3.7%
21.7%
3.1%
2.1%
1.8%
10.1%
0.4%
25.6%
2.6%
25.7%
1.5%
80.1%
0.3%
9.7%
0.3%
31.8%
3.8%
16.9%
3.3%
32.6%
1.9%
22.5%
1.1%
100.0%
(297)
100.0%
(217)
100.0%
(243)
100.0%
(178)
100.0%
(312)
100.0%
(260)
100.0%
(132)
100.0%
(194)
West
Under 40
40-100
100+
36.3%
42.6%
44.1%
38.7%
36.9%
0.4%
17.6%
2.0%
48.5%
1.9%
11.5%
1.8%
31.5%
2.4%
20.0%
3.5%
35.8%
1.4%
17.4%
1.4%
50.4%
1.2%
9.2%
0.4%
100.0%
(289)
100.0%
(196)
100.0%
(261)
100.0%
(322)
100.0%
(147)
16
The Economist/YouGov Poll
November 19-22, 2011
Sponsorship
The Economist
Fieldwork
YouGov
Interviewing Dates
November 19-22, 2011
Target population
U.S. citizens, aged 18 and over.
Sampling method
Respondents were selected from YouGovs PollingPoint panel using
sample matching. A random sample (stratified by age, gender, race,
education, and region) was selected from the 20052007 American
Community Study. Voter registration, turnout, religion, news interest,
minor party identification, and non-placement on an ideology scale,
were imputed from the 2008 Current Population Survey Registration
and Voting Supplement and the Pew Religion in American Life Survey.
Matching respondents were selected from the PollingPoint panel, an
opt-in Internet panel.
Weighting
The sample was weighted using propensity scores based on age,
gender, race, education, news interest, voter registration, and nonplacement on an ideology scale. The weights range from 0.41 to 5.45,
with a mean of one and a standard deviation of 0.7.
Number of respondents
1,000
Margin of error
3.8% (adjusted for weighting)
Margin of error (Registered Voters)
4.2% (adjusted for weighting)
Survey mode
Web-based interviews
Full results
Available online at
http://today.yougov.com/news/categories/economist/.
17
