A new
CNN/ORC poll conducted July 26-28 and released Tuesday showed increased approval for the way President Obama is handling his job, with more support for his policies on race relations and the economy than on guns.
His overall approval ratings are 50 percent approval to 47 percent disapproval, a positive swing since last month when his approval ratings were upside down (45 percent to 52 percent).
On race relations, Obama receives an approval rating of 55 percent to 42 percent, with blacks overwhelmingly approving (84 percent) and whites almost evenly split (48 percent to 47 percent).
Obama's approval ratings on the economy are 52 percent to 47 percent.
But on gun policy, Obama's numbers are under water, with only 42 percent approval to 53 percent disapproval.
Americans are also much more likely today to see discrimination against blacks as a major problem than they were five years ago. Today, 37 percent say it's a "very serious" problem, up significantly from 16 percent who said the same in July of 2010.
How serious a problem do you think racial discrimination against blacks is in this country -- a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, not too serious, or not at all serious?
Very serious: 37 percent
Somewhat serious: 37 percent
Not too serious: 16 percent
Not at all serious: 9 percent
No opinion: 1 percent