CNN/Opinion Research Corp

Oil Spill
Conducted 6/16; surveyed 534 adults; margin of error +/- 4.2%. Subsample of 222 adults who watched or listened to Obama's 6/15 speech (release, 6/17).
Obama As POTUS

-           Now 5/23 4/11 3/28 3/21 2/15 1/24 1/10 12/20 12/3
Approve     50% 51%  51%  51%  46%  49%  49%  51%  54%   48%
Disapprove  48  46   47   48   51   50   50   48   44    50

Does The Following Apply To Obama?

-                                   Now      1/22     11/1
-                                   Yes No   Yes No   Yes No
Is sincere in what he says          64% 35%  63% 37%  n/a n/a
Cares about people like you         60  40   n/a n/a  59% 41%
Inspires confidence                 56  43   57  43   63  37
Is a strong and decisive leader     53  46   60  39   62  37
Tough enough to handle a crisis     53  47   n/a n/a  n/a n/a
Can manage gov't efficiently        49  50   n/a n/a  58  42

Obama Handling Oil Spill

-           Now 5/23
Approve     41% 46%
Disapprove  59  51

BP Handling Oil Spill

-           Now 5/23
Approve     13% 24%
Disapprove  87  76

Federal Gov't Handling Oil Spill

Approve     25%
Disapprove  74

Do You Think Obama Has Been Too Tough/Not Tough Enough/About Right In Dealing With BP In Regards To The Oil Spill

Too tough            5%
Not tough enough    67
About right         26

Federal Gov't Creating A Fund Of Billions Of Dollars To Compensate Workers And Businesses That Have Been Affected By The Oil Spill That Would Be Paid By BP But Administered By A Neutral Party

Approve     82%
Disapprove  18

Who Do You Trust More To Improve The Situation In The Gulf Of Mexico?

Federal gov't   54%
BP              32
Both equal       2
Neither         12
Undec           --

How Confident Are You That The Federal Gov't Will Be Able To ___?

-                                    Very Fairly NotVery Not
Make sure that BP will pay for all
 the damage it has caused in Gulf   18%  29%    32%     21%
Reduce the country's dependance on
 oil for its energy needs           12   24     36      27
Prevent another spill like the one
 in the Gulf                         9   32     34      24
Restore the Gulf to the same
 condition it was in before spill    8   23     35      33

What Do You Think BP's Top Priority Should Be -- Cleaning Up The Spill And Paying For The Damage That It Has Caused, Or Protecting The Interests Of Its Investors And Employees By Making Sure BP Stays In Business And Makes A Profit?

Cleaning up spill   92%
Making a profit      7

What Do You Think BP's Top Priority Will Be -- Cleaning Up The Spill And Paying For The Damage That It Has Caused, Or Protecting The Interests Of Its Investors And Employees By Making Sure BP Stays In Business And Makes A Profit?

Making a profit     67%
Cleaning up spill   32

Did You Happen To Watch Or Listen To Any Of Obama's 6/15 P.M. Speech On The Oil Spill?

Yes     32%
No      68

What Was Your Overall Reaction To Obama's Speech (Speech-watchers)

Positive    53%
Negative    47