-- Obama’s Approval Rating Significantly Increases after Speech --

[bridgit]

Flemington, NJ, February 24, 2009 – Results of a national study among 1,600 self-reported Democrats, Republicans and Independents during President Barack Obama’s speech to Congress revealed that inspiration was the emotion felt the most among viewers across all political parties.

After the speech, President Obama’s approval ratings significantly increased among all parties, as well as his likeability, believability and sincerity ratings.

HCD Research conducted the study during the president’s speech earlier this evening among a nationally representative sample of self-reported Democrats, Republicans and Independents. To view detailed results go to www.mediacurves.com.

During the testing process, respondents’ emotions were measured, and respondents were also asked pre and post-viewing questions to determine if their attitudes have changed as a result of watching President Obama’s speech.

Respondents were asked to choose from a list of emotions to indicate those that best reflected their feelings while viewing the speech.

The emotions most felt by Republicans while watching the speech were skepticism (47%) and inspiration (29%), compared to Democrats, who reported feeling inspiration (59%) and pride (21%). Independents reported inspiration (54%) and skepticism (26%) as the emotions most felt most while watching the speech.
Among the Findings:

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling his job as President?

BEFORE Speech

Democrats
Republicans
Independents

Approve
80%
22%
51%

Disapprove
2%
41%
12%

Not Sure
18%
38%
37%

AFTER Speech

Democrats
Republicans
Independents

Approve
88%
33%
67%

Disapprove
3%
37%
12%

Not Sure
9%
30%
21%

Please rate President Barack Obama’s handling of the following policy areas as excellent, good, fair or poor. (1=Excellent, 2=Good, 3=Fair, 4=Poor)

BEFORE Speech

MEANS

Democrats
Republicans
Independents

The Economy
2.3
(Good)
3.6
(Poor)
3.0
(Fair)

Homeland Security
2.7
(Fair)
3.6
(Poor)
3.0
(Fair)

Energy
2.4
(Good)
3.5
(Poor)
2.8
(Fair)

Taxes
3.7
(Good)
3.5
(Poor)
2.9
(Fair)

The War in Iraq
2.5
(Good)
3.6
(Poor)
3.0
(Fair)

The Federal Budget
2.4
(Good)
3.7
(Poor)
2.7
(Fair)

The Environment
2.5
(Good)
3.5
(Poor)
2.9
(Fair)

Education
2.5
(Good)
3.7
(Poor)
3.0
(Fair)

Social Security
2.7
(Fair)
3.8
(Poor)
3.3
(Fair)


AFTER Speech


MEANS


Democrats
Republicans
Independents

The Economy
1.9
(Good)
3.1
(Fair)
2.4
(Good)

Homeland Security
2.3
(Good)
3.4
(Fair)
2,7
(Fair)

Energy
1.9
(Good)
3.0
(Fair)
2.2
(Good)

Taxes
1.9
(Good)
3.1
(Fair)
2.4
(Good)

The War
in Iraq
2.1
(Good)
3.3
(Fair)
2.6
(Fair)

The Federal Budget
2.0
(Good)
3.2
(Fair)
2.5
(Fair)

The Environment
2.0
(Good)
3.1
(Fair)
2.4
(Good)

Education
1.8
(Good)
2.9
(Fair)
2.3
(Good)

Social Security
2.4
(Good)
3.5
(Fair)
2.9
(Fair)

“Which of the following emotions did you feel the most while viewing the speech? Please select one emotion you felt most.”

Democrats

Republicans
Independents

Anger
0%
6%
2%

Inspiration
59%
29%
54%

Sadness
1%
1%
0%

Skepticism
9%
47%
26%

Confusion
1%
2%
1%

Disturbing
1%
5%
3%

Embarrassment
0%
1%
1%

Pride
21%
7%
10%

Happiness
8%
2%
4%

The Media Curves web site provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

[alittlelark]

1. I am suprised the 'Pride' was that low - 21%

Seriously.... I don't understand that stat.

[bridgit]

2. That stat may be keyed with folks that have more internalized themselves with his...

personage directly; Obama's other stats are I think representative and indisputably so; with vast tracts of people nodding along with agreement & solid support for his success & well wishes in both generalized & specific cases...and that works for me just fine. I loved what he had to say and the way in which he said it. I find the stats very positive from an over-arching view point :)

[izquierdista]

3. Skepticism and inspiration?

You mean they didn't measure Repubs for that sinking feeling that you get when you know your ass has been handed to you and it would be better if you went and found a large rock to crawl under?

[bridgit]

4. heh-heh, that's right, unless you factor the flat-lines on all those trackers as...

properly viewed republican feelings of what is unending, morose and bottomless despair :spray:

[bridgit]

5. mornning kick ~

:kick:

[Spacemom]

6. I was so glad

to finally have a president who can deliver a coherent, intelligent speech. And one in which he didn't have to smirk or guffaw even once. :D

[bridgit]

7. Me too, glad to see the event *not* being used to position Cheney's nightmares of world dominion...

Back to basics works for me :)