(Week of 12/8/2012) With only a few weeks to go before the country goes over the "fiscal cliff" of automatic large tax increases and spending cuts, the President may have the upper hand in the debate with Congress. Not only is the approval rating of Congress in this week’s Economist/YouGov Poll an anemic 9%, well below the President’s 48% approval rating, but the leaders of Congress — Democrat and Republican alike – are also viewed poorly by Americans.
Although only half the country has a favorable view of the President, less than a third are positive about each of the four Congressional leaders: House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. For each of the Congressional leaders, more are unfavorable than favorable.
The President continues to receive negative ratings for his handling of the budget deficit: 39% approve, 45% do not. However, that is an improvement from one year ago. Then, just 32% approved of how the President was handling the budget deficit. 55% disapproved.
Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here
Photo source: Press Association
