By: John Zogby
Forbes.com Contributor
Despite any real prospects for a settlement of the federal government's fiscal crisis, President Barack Obama's numbers continue to look strong, according to a new poll by Zogby Analytics. The online survey of 1000 likely voters, conducted March 13-14, shows the President's job approval holding steady at 52%, with 45% disapproving. This is a point better in each direction since the February 27-28 Zogby Poll.
Mr. Obama's approval actually rose from 86% to 88% among Democrats and 14% to 20% among Republicans - but it slipped 3 points to only 41% among independents, with 53% disapproving. The President's re-election was boosted by his majority support among independents in November.
Mr. Obama now has majority support among men (52%, up 6 points) and women (52%). He had small increases in support among age groups under 65, but slipped from 36% approval in late February to only 29% among voters over 65 in March. Seven in ten senior now voters disapprove of the President's job performance.
Mr. Obama continues to grow support among Hispanic voters with now 84% approving of his job (up 6 points) and among African Americans (94%, up 5 points). With the stock market rally, the President wins approval of more members of the Investor Class (57%, up 3) - and, at the same time, he has increased points among two other former bastions of GOP support: NASCAR Fans (55%, up 3) and Weekly Wal-Mart Shoppers (58%). The Creative Class continues with 59% approval.
Only 38% believe that the U.S. is headed in the right direction, but that is 3 points up from late February. Half (50%) feel things are off on the wrong track (down 4 points).
A majority (53%) are optimistic about the nation in the next four years (up 4 points), while 42% are pessimistic (down 3 points).
While the President's vigorous post-inaugural campaigning showed a point of diminishing returns, his numbers have improved among the public. But this does not necessarily mean clear sailing for Mr. Obama. Voters oppose by a factor of 52% to 38% any new government sponsored stimulus spending as part of any fiscal package and support federal budget cuts that are commensurate with any new revenue increases by a factor of 53% to 27%. A huge majority of 84% feel that the U.S. economy would grow if more oil and natural gas we consume came from North America.
As he heads to the Middle East, Mr. Obama leaves the country with majority support, always good to have when dealing with foreign allies and foes, alike. But he continues to face low prospects of a resolution to the nation's most troubling domestic crisis.