2016 US Politics - The Economy Remains at the Top of the List of the Most Serious Problem Facing the US (December 14)

Trends

Overall, 55% of Americans believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, with Republicans (53%) and Democrats (54%) having about the same amount of pessimism. Significantly more Independents (63%) believe that the country off on the wrong track.

The economy remains at the top of the list of the most serious problem facing the United States, at 19%.

Approval

President Obama’s approval rating has risen to 54% approve, with disapproval at 41%.

Mike Pence is enjoying higher favorability since the election with over half (54%) of Americans favorable towards the Vice President-Elect. However, less than half (46%) are currently favorable towards President-Elect Donald Trump.

Trump Administration

As President-Elect Trump announces potential appointments for the new administration, we will be gauging the American public’s opinion of those candidates. This week:

• David Petraeus is the best known and the most highly regarded with 75% of Americans aware of him and 54% of those who are aware of him, hold favorable opinions towards him.
• Jon Huntsman is tied for second best well known (61%) with over half (52%) of these viewing him as favorable.
• Tom Price (61% aware, 45% favorable), Steve Mnuchin (55% aware, 45% favorable), and Michael T. Flynn (60% aware, 46% favorable) are known by over half of all Americans, however each of them are regarded as favorable by less than half of those aware.
• James N. Mattis is the second least known, with 58% familiar with him. However, he also is the second most highly regarded, with 53% of those familiar viewing him as favorable.

President-Elect Trump’s personnel moves to date have diminished Americans’ confidence. After last week’s jump to 40%, this week only 33% of Americans said that Donald Trump’s choices for his cabinet make them feel more confident about the new administration. 44% of Americans are saying that his choices make them feel less confident.

These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted for Thomson Reuters December 9-13, 2016, 2016. For the survey, a sample of 1,208 Americans, including 512 Democrats, 436 Republicans, 154 Independents ages 18+ were interviewed online.