Q Poll: Split Marks For Obama, Calls For Senate To Vote On Supreme Court

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- When it came to job approval, voters gave President Barack Obama a split 49 percent vs. 48 percent rating, his best net score in nearly three years, according to a new Quinnipiac University National poll released Thursday.

President Barrack Obama received his highest approval ratings in three years in the latest Quinnipiac University poll.
Photo Credit: *File*

K Reakes

03/24/2016 10:47 a.m.

And the vast majority of those polled — 62 percent vs. 33 percent — also said they believe the U.S. Senate should vote on the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, the Q Poll said.

Obama hasn't been above water on his job approval rating since a 48 percent vs. 45 percent score in a May 1, 2013, survey by the independent Q Poll.

"Let's face it: Both parties are deeply unpopular, but the Democrats are the least reviled," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "And for President Barack Obama, some end-of-term numbers that may warm the heart in this ugly political season."

There are large gender, racial, age and partisan gaps in poll's score:

Men disapprove 53 percent vs. 43 percent while women approve 54 percent vs. 43 percent;
White voters disapprove 57 percent vs. 40 percent while non-white voters approve 75 percent vs. 21 percent;
Voters 18 to 34 years old approve 62 percent vs. 35 percent. Approval drops to 51 percent vs. 44 percent among voters 35 to 49 years old, to a negative 44 percent vs. 53 percent among voters 50 to 64 years old, to a negative 37 percent vs. 61 percent among voters over 65 years old;
Democrats approve 92 percent vs. 7 percent while Republicans disapprove 89 percent vs. 8 percent. Independent voters disapprove 50 percent vs. 44 percent.

Also, two-thirds of those polled want the U.S. Senate to consider Garland's nomination to the court rather than wait until there is a new president, the Q Poll found.

Supporting action are Democrats 87 percent vs. 8 percent and independent voters 63 percent vs. 31 percent, with Republicans opposed 62 percent vs. 33 percent, the poll showed.

"He may never get the job or even get a chance to tell his story, but Americans think Judge Merrick Garland is the right person for the Supreme Court," said Malloy.

In addition, only 29 percent of American voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are going in the nation today, while 70 percent are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied."

From March 16 to March 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,451 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.

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