Quinnipiac: Most Disapprove of Obama Gun Policy

A majority of voters disapprove of President Barack Obama’s handling of gun control, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Quinnipiac Poll of 1,471 registered voters showed that 52 percent are unhappy with Obama’s approach to gun control, which focuses on an expanded background-check system for purchasers. 

The results contrast with a survey released Monday by the liberal-leaning polling firm Public Policy Polling that claimed there was “overwhelming, bipartisan support of background checks” among voters, based on results showing that five senators — four Republicans and one Democrat — have seen their approval ratings plummet in their states after they voted against more extensive background checks.

Voters in the April 25-29 Quinnipiac survey said they are disappointed by the president’s handling of the economy and immigration reform. On the economy, half of respondents disapproved of the president’s management of the economy, while just 41 percent approved.

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On immigration, 50 percent of those surveyed were dissatisfied with the president's approach, compared to 40 percent who approved.

But Obama received positive numbers for his handling of foreign policy, terrorism, and the North Korea crisis. Overall, voters gave him a 48-45 percent job-approval rating.

The Quinnipiac survey showed that voters tend to prefer one-party control of the White House and both houses of Congress. A total of 48 percent say they would prefer control in the hands of one party; while 43 percent prefer divided government.

The poll also found that voters are more likely to vote for a Democrat for Congress than for a Republican if the 2014 election were today. But the margin is slim, with 41 percent choosing the Democrats compared to 37 percent for the GOP.

“The Democratic edge in the so-called congressional ballot is small at this point in the cycle, but there has been a consistent Democratic edge for several months,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“The question, of course, is whether that margin will be there in 18 months when voters go to the polls,” he said.

Meanwhile, 62 percent of voters polled said congressional Republicans don’t care about their needs or problems; 54 percent believe the same thing about Democrats.

“The Democratic edge in the generic ballot does not seem to be linked to any strong public affection for the president’s party. They are down on both groups, just Democrats a bit less,” Brown said.