(Jim Young/Reuters)
Roper GfK for AP, (8/18-22, American adults):
Please tell me how much blame each of the following deserves for the country’s current economic problems.
Almost all/A lot but not all:
George Bush: 51
Republicans in Congress: 44
Democrats in Congress: 36
Barack Obama: 31
None/only a little:
Barack Obama: 39
Democrats in Congress: 22
George Bush: 22
Republicans in Congress: 17
(MoE: ±4.1%)
Americans also trusted Democrats more than Republicans on handling the economy, health care, the budget deficit, taxes, and creating jobs. Republicans had the edge on national security.
Nonetheless, the poll wasn't a stellar report card for President Obama and Congressional Democrats. Republicans definitely received lower marks, but 75% of the public thinks the country is headed in the wrong direction and a majority disapprove of President Obama's job performance. 47% said he deserves to be reelected compared with 48% who said he doesn't.
92% said the economy was extremely important (52%) or very important (41%) and 78% said the budget deficit was extremely important (46%) or very important (33%). (Numbers don't add up because of rounding.)