West Long Branch, NJ – Last week, Pres. Barack Obama announced a major refocus on the country’s middle class. The latest national Monmouth University Poll , though, finds he has limited credibility with that group.
The American public is split on the veracity of Pres. Obama’s announcement that he wants to refocus the remainder of his term on helping the middle class. Less than half (46%) believe the president when he says this, while exactly half (50%) do not believe him. The vast majority of Democrats (78%) take the president at his word, but nearly all Republicans (87%) do not. Independents tend to be more skeptical (54%) than trusting (42%) of the president’s claim.
Looking back over his term so far, Americans put the middle class at the bottom of the list for groups who have been helped by Obama’s policies. Among five different groups asked about in the poll, Wall Street bankers are the most likely to be seen as doing well under Obama, with 44% of Americans saying this group has benefited a lot and 26% saying they benefited a little from the president’s policies. Wealthy families (35% a lot and 31% a little) and health insurance companies (34% a lot and 27% a little) are next in line as perceived beneficiaries of Obama’s policies. Just 20% of Americans say poor families have benefited a lot and 39% say they have benefited a little during the Obama era.
|
Groups Helped by Pres. Obama | ||
| Have benefited… |
A Lot |
Not At All |
| Wall Street bankers |
44% |
14% |
| Wealthy families |
35% |
23% |
| Health insurance companies |
34% |
26% |
| Poor families |
20% |
37% |
| Middle class families |
12% |
46% |
Middle class families, though, stand at the bottom of the list – below both rich and poor. Only 12% of Americans say the middle class has benefited a lot from Obama’s policies and 39% say it has benefited a little. In fact, nearly half (46%) say that middle class families have not benefited at all. This is significantly higher than the number who say no benefits have been seen by Wall Street (14%), wealthy families (23%), health insurers (26%), or even poor families (37%).
“Given Pres. Obama’s track record with the middle class, this new focus may be seen as too little too late,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, New Jersey. “Of course, some of the problem may lie in the acrimonious relationship between the President and the House of Representatives.”
In spite of perceptions of his policies to date, a majority (55%) of Americans think it is at least somewhat likely that Pres. Obama will propose policies to help the middle class. On the other hand, just 30% say it is likely that Congress will enact any of these measures. There is a partisan divide on the president’s intentions – 84% of Democrats, 50% of independents, and 24% of Republicans say Obama is likely to propose policies to help the middle class. There is no such gap when it comes to the probability that Congress will act on such policies – just 31% of Democrats, 28% of independents, and 32% of Republicans say Congressional action is likely.
Pres. Obama outlined six cornerstones for his new middle-class policy. The Monmouth University Poll finds that Americans feel some are more important than the others. Specifically, about 3-in-4 say that health care costs (79%), being able to save for retirement (75%), and a lack of jobs (73%) are major problems facing the middle class right now. Of somewhat lesser importance are access to good, affordable education (56% major problem) and housing and mortgage costs (52% major problem). Less than half (46%) say that inequality and a lack of opportunity for certain groups are a major problem for the middle class. There are only very slight partisan differences in rating these items as major problems facing the middle class.
The poll also found that 42% of Americans approve of Pres. Obama’s overall job performance while 51% disapprove. Just 28% say the country is headed in the right direction and 63% say it is on the wrong track.
The latest Monmouth University Poll was conducted by telephone with a national random sample of 1,012 adults age 18 and older from July 25 to 30, 2013. This sample has a margin of error of ± 3.1 percent. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
DATA TABLES
The questions referred to in this release are as follows:
(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.)
1. Would you say things in the country are going in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Right direction | 28% | 27% | 32% | 7% | 23% | 53% | 28% | 29% | 38% | 24% | 25% | 21% | 47% | |
| Wrong track | 63% | 66% | 52% | 91% | 67% | 38% | 63% | 62% | 51% | 67% | 69% | 72% | 41% | |
| (VOL) Depends | 5% | 5% | 7% | 2% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 7% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 4% | 2% | 8% | 0% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 2% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 5% | |
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Approve | 42% | 41% | 47% | 7% | 37% | 75% | 39% | 46% | 50% | 40% | 37% | 33% | 67% | |
| Disapprove | 51% | 54% | 42% | 90% | 54% | 21% | 54% | 49% | 42% | 53% | 58% | 61% | 28% | |
| (VOL) No opinion | 6% | 5% | 10% | 3% | 9% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 5% | |
3. How much have each of the following groups benefited from President Obama’s policies so far. [READ ITEM] – Have they benefited a lot, a little, or not at all? [ITEMS WERE ROTATED]
Middle class families
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Lot | 12% | 11% | 15% | 3% | 9% | 23% | 10% | 14% | 17% | 11% | 10% | 9% | 17% | |
| Little | 39% | 38% | 44% | 19% | 40% | 54% | 39% | 40% | 43% | 40% | 36% | 37% | 50% | |
| Not at all | 46% | 49% | 37% | 77% | 48% | 22% | 48% | 44% | 37% | 49% | 52% | 51% | 32% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 2% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 1% | |
Wealthy families
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Lot | 35% | 34% | 42% | 24% | 39% | 40% | 36% | 35% | 36% | 33% | 40% | 33% | 42% | |
| Little | 31% | 31% | 33% | 25% | 31% | 37% | 30% | 32% | 34% | 33% | 28% | 33% | 30% | |
| Not at all | 23% | 26% | 16% | 42% | 20% | 15% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 27% | 21% | 25% | 20% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 10% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 8% | |
Poor families
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
| Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | ||
| Lot | 20% | 19% | 22% | 20% | 15% | 26% | 17% | 22% | 23% | 20% | 16% | 20% | 20% | |
| Little | 39% | 41% | 32% | 30% | 38% | 46% | 39% | 39% | 44% | 37% | 37% | 37% | 47% | |
| Not at all | 37% | 36% | 41% | 46% | 41% | 24% | 39% | 35% | 29% | 39% | 42% | 38% | 31% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 2% | |
Wall Street bankers
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Lot | 44% | 44% | 44% | 41% | 51% | 38% | 53% | 35% | 38% | 47% | 47% | 44% | 45% | |
| Little | 26% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 23% | 33% | 23% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 28% | |
| Not at all | 14% | 14% | 13% | 22% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 12% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 17% | 16% | 18% | 15% | 16% | 18% | 12% | 21% | 20% | 14% | 16% | 17% | 15% | |
Health insurance companies
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Lot | 34% | 36% | 27% | 29% | 39% | 32% | 39% | 30% | 29% | 36% | 38% | 34% | 37% | |
| Little | 27% | 27% | 25% | 25% | 21% | 36% | 24% | 29% | 31% | 27% | 24% | 26% | 29% | |
| Not at all | 26% | 24% | 32% | 38% | 24% | 20% | 24% | 27% | 26% | 25% | 25% | 28% | 18% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 13% | 13% | 15% | 8% | 15% | 12% | 12% | 14% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 13% | 15% | |
4. Do you generally believe or not believe President Obama when he says he wants to focus the remainder of his term on helping the middle class?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Believe | 46% | 46% | 48% | 11% | 42% | 78% | 43% | 50% | 55% | 46% | 40% | 38% | 68% | |
| Not believe | 50% | 51% | 47% | 87% | 54% | 19% | 53% | 47% | 42% | 52% | 55% | 59% | 28% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 4% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 5% | 3% | 4% | |
5. How likely is it that President Obama will propose policies to help the middle class – very, somewhat, not too, or not at all likely?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Very likely | 25% | 26% | 24% | 5% | 20% | 47% | 25% | 25% | 28% | 26% | 23% | 20% | 41% | |
| Somewhat likely | 30% | 28% | 36% | 19% | 30% | 37% | 27% | 33% | 39% | 29% | 22% | 26% | 39% | |
| Not too likely | 15% | 15% | 16% | 15% | 21% | 7% | 16% | 13% | 16% | 14% | 16% | 18% | 9% | |
| Not at all likely | 29% | 30% | 22% | 60% | 28% | 8% | 30% | 27% | 17% | 29% | 37% | 35% | 11% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 0% | |
6. How likely is it that Congress will enact policies to help the middle class – very, somewhat, not too, or not at all likely?
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Very likely | 4% | 4% | 5% | 2% | 3% | 7% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 8% | |
| Somewhat likely | 26% | 25% | 32% | 30% | 25% | 24% | 26% | 26% | 34% | 22% | 23% | 23% | 32% | |
| Not too likely | 30% | 30% | 28% | 27% | 29% | 34% | 28% | 31% | 30% | 31% | 28% | 30% | 27% | |
| Not at all likely | 38% | 39% | 32% | 38% | 41% | 34% | 40% | 36% | 29% | 42% | 42% | 42% | 31% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 2% | |
7. Please tell me whether each of the following is a major problem, minor problem or not a problem facing the middle class. [ITEMS WERE ROTATED]
Lack of jobs
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Major problem | 73% | 75% | 65% | 78% | 72% | 70% | 72% | 74% | 69% | 71% | 79% | 74% | 68% | |
| Minor problem | 22% | 20% | 27% | 17% | 22% | 25% | 23% | 20% | 25% | 23% | 17% | 22% | 25% | |
| Not a problem | 5% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 6% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | |
Access to good, affordable education
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Major problem | 56% | 56% | 57% | 55% | 55% | 58% | 54% | 58% | 57% | 55% | 57% | 57% | 55% | |
| Minor problem | 29% | 29% | 29% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 29% | 30% | |
| Not a problem | 13% | 14% | 13% | 13% | 16% | 10% | 16% | 11% | 14% | 13% | 12% | 13% | 12% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% | |
Housing and mortgage costs
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Major problem | 52% | 50% | 58% | 50% | 52% | 52% | 47% | 56% | 50% | 51% | 53% | 49% | 58% | |
| Minor problem | 36% | 37% | 32% | 38% | 35% | 38% | 39% | 33% | 40% | 38% | 30% | 39% | 33% | |
| Not a problem | 9% | 10% | 7% | 8% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 7% | 7% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 8% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 5% | 3% | 1% | |
Being able to save for retirement
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Major problem | 75% | 76% | 69% | 77% | 76% | 71% | 70% | 79% | 68% | 78% | 77% | 77% | 70% | |
| Minor problem | 18% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 17% | 22% | 21% | 15% | 25% | 15% | 16% | 18% | 22% | |
| Not a problem | 5% | 4% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 6% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 2% | 1% | 5% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | |
Health care costs
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Major problem | 79% | 80% | 77% | 88% | 78% | 75% | 79% | 80% | 74% | 81% | 82% | 83% | 75% | |
| Minor problem | 14% | 14% | 14% | 10% | 16% | 16% | 13% | 15% | 19% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 16% | |
| Not a problem | 5% | 4% | 6% | 2% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 9% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 2% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | |
Inequality and a lack of opportunity for certain groups
|
TOTAL | REGISTERED VOTER | PARTY ID | GENDER | AGE |
RACE | |||||||||
|
Yes | No | Rep | Ind | Dem | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White |
Black/ | |||
| Major problem | 46% | 47% | 42% | 45% | 42% | 52% | 42% | 49% | 39% | 49% | 49% | 46% | 45% | |
| Minor problem | 31% | 31% | 31% | 32% | 35% | 26% | 34% | 29% | 38% | 28% | 28% | 33% | 30% | |
| Not a problem | 16% | 16% | 18% | 19% | 17% | 15% | 18% | 15% | 19% | 18% | 13% | 15% | 19% | |
| (VOL) Don’t know | 7% | 6% | 9% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 10% | 6% | 6% | |
The Monmouth University Poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute from July 25 to 30, 2013 with a national random sample of 1,012 adults age 18 and older, including 708 via live interview on a landline telephone and 304 via live interview on a cell phone. Monmouth is responsible for all aspects of the survey questionnaire design, data weighting and analysis. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups, such as separate figures reported by gender or party identification, are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample. In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.
|
POLL DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted) | |||
| 22% Rep | 49% Male | 31% 18-34 |
67% White |
| 45% Ind | 51% Female | 37% 35-54 |
11% Black |
| 33% Dem | 32% 55+ |
15% Hispanic | |
|
7% Asian/Other | |||
Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and results by key demographic groups.
