US likes Obama but wants changes

A shock Republican victory in a Senate election in Massachusetts this week demonstrated how perilous the political landscape has become for Mr Obama’s party, but nearly 90 per cent of Americans say they like him personally, with three-quarters of Republicans even admitting they can see his appeal, according to the Associated Press-GfK poll judging his first year in office.

However, such personal goodwill came to little in Massachusetts, where Republican Scott Brown’s defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley was seen as a referendum on Mr Obama’s first year in office as well as his top domestic priority, an overhaul of the US health care system.

A president’s likeability can be a precious political commodity, but it proved to be one without substance in the Senate contest.

The excitement of Mr Obama’s inauguration and the inflated expectations of that time are gone. His approval ratings have been in the 50 per cent area since July, sliding from 74 per cent a year ago.

Hopes that he would become an extraordinary president have been tempered during a year of economic calamity, an escalating war in Afghanistan and sharp elbows in the health care debate, the poll suggests.

Forty two per cent of those polled rated Mr Obama as an above average or outstanding president, while a year ago, 65 per cent expected him to be.

But what is also fading is the worry that he is in over his head.

Fewer Americans register a concern that the former one-term senator is doing too much too fast in the White House or lacks the gravitas to take on big problems. Even some people who do not like his policies credit him with a capable approach.

With Mr Obama’s plans to reinvent the health insurance system, restore economic stability and take big steps in energy, the environment and more, Americans appeared nervous about changes even as they were drawn to their promises.

In the summer, nearly half of Americans thought Mr Obama was trying to do too many things too quickly. That is starting to turn around, and an increasing number of people – especially Democrats – want him to pick up the pace, even if not all are exactly sure what he should do.

Two-thirds in the poll agreed with the phrases “he understands the problems of ordinary Americans,” “he will keep America safe,” “he cares about people like you” and “he is a strong leader,” a modest decline from three-quarters or more before his inauguration.

Most of that decline comes from sinking appraisals by Republicans, while his leadership ratings among independents have gone down much less and remain overwhelmingly favourable among Democrats. Before the inauguration, even a majority of Republicans said those phrases described Obama at least somewhat well.

With Democratic majorities at stake again, the poll found that 49 per cent would like to see the party keep control of Congress in November while 37 per cent want Republicans to take over. The poll involved telephone interviews with 1,008 adults.

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