Poll: 42% Think Obama's Doing Good Job on Oil Spill

Majority support more drilling, despite risks

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted May 13, 2010 11:20 AM CDT

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Poll: 42% Think Obama's Doing Good Job on Oil Spill — This image from a video released by BP PLC shows oil spewing from a yellowish, broken pipe 5,000 feet below the surface. The oil looks like steam rushing from a geyser. ((AP Photo/BP PLC) No Sales)

The Gulf oil spill is not "Obama's Katrina," regardless of what Rush Limbaugh says. A new AP/GfK poll finds that the disaster hasn't hurt President Obama—but neither has it dimmed the public's desire for more offshore energy drilling. Some highlights:

Obama's handling: Some 42% of those surveyed approve, 33% disapprove, and 21% are neutral. Conversely, President Bush had 35% approve and 42% disapprove of his post-Katrina performance.

The divide is largely partisan: Dems favor Obama 58% to 19%, while Republicans disapprove 47% to 27%. Independents are about evenly split.
BP didn't get killed: 49% disapprove of the oil giant's actions, 32% approve, and 15% are neutral.
Drill, baby, drill: 50% still favor increased offshore drilling, while 38% oppose it.
Environment even with energy: 49% think US energy independence, while 47% favor environmental protection.

(Read more Gulf oil spill stories.)