1. The Public Opinion Landscape –
What We Learned From The Government
Shutdown and Debt Ceiling Debate
October 18, 2013

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Slide
1. Perceptions of State of the Nation / Economic Conditions
2
2. Views on Obama & Congress
9
3. Party Images
15
1

3. Perceptions of State of the Nation /
Economic Conditions
2

4. DISSATISFACTION WITH STATE OF THE NATION
NEARS PEAK
All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in this
country today?
3
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, October 9-13, 2013

5. CONCERN ABOUT SHUTDOWN’S ECONOMIC
IMPACT IS SUBSTANTIAL
Thinking about the government shutdown that
started on October 1st…
How concerned, if at all, are you about the
government shutdown’s effect on the U.S. economy?
57%
26%
10%
Very concerned
Somewhat
concerned
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, October 9-13, 2013
6%
Not too
concerned
Not at all
concerned
Note: “DK/REF” results are not shown.
4

6. ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE SLIDES DURING
SHUTDOWN
Lowest Gallup has measured since late November/early December 2011
5
Source: Gallup Poll, October 7-13, 2013

7. MORE AMERICANS NOW THINK ECONOMY WILL
GET WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT
YEAR
During the next twelve months, do you think that the nation’s economy
will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
40% 42%
35%
23%
38%
46%
33%
41%
45%
38%
35% 27% 36%
19% 19% 20%
42%
49% 47% 48%
45%
38%
32% 34% 33% 32% 31%
28%
25%
18% 18%
18%
21%
42%
Will get
worse
27% 38%
Will stay
the same
24% 17%
Will get
better
9%
0%
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Source: NBC/WSJ Survey, October 7-9, 2013

8. AMERICANS LESS CONFIDENT ABOUT ECONOMY
GETTING BETTER
Thinking about President Obama and Republicans in Congress and their negotiations about the
budget, does it make you feel more confident or less confident about the economy getting
better or does it not make a difference in your opinion one way or the other?
More confident
7%
63%
Less confident
No difference
Source: NBC/WSJ Survey, October 7-9, 2013
28%
Note: “Not Sure” results are not shown.
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9. DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT SURPASSES
ECONOMY AS TOP U.S. PROBLEM
Highest percentage citing dysfunctional government in Gallup history
Most Important Problem – October 2013
Dissatisfaction with government (33%)
Healthcare (12%)
Economy in general (19%
Federal budget deficit / Federal debt (12%)
Unemployment / jobs (12%)
Lack of money (5%)
8
Source: Gallup Poll, October 3-6, 2013

10. Views on Obama & Congress
9

11. OBAMA’S OVERALL JOB APPROVAL RATING
FADES
Overall Job Approval
DISAPPROVE 51.1%
APPROVE 43.3%
10
Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data, as of October 18, 2013

12. CONGRESSIONAL JOB APPROVAL FALLS to
11% AMID THE SHUTDOWN
Congress Overall
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is
handling its job?
Own Representative
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
the representative from your congressional
district is handling his or her job?
Approve
Disapprove
Oct-13
44%
43%
May-13
46%
41%
Mar-92
58%
31%
Oct-91
64%
27%
Nov-90
55%
28%
Aug-90
66%
19%
Mar-77
55%
18%
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Source: Gallup Poll, October 3-6, 2013

13. RECORD ANTI-INCUMBENCY MOOD
Would you like to see your representative in
Congress be re-elected in the next congressional
election, or not?
Yes
66%
62%
Regardless of how you feel about your own
representative, would you like to see most
members of Congress re-elected in the next
congressional election, or not?
58%
49%
57%
No
52%
48%
No
74%
38%
29%
22%
22%
23% 25%
29%
Yes
18%
Dk/Ref
8%
1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014
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Source: Pew Research Center Poll, October 9-13, 2013

14. VIEWS OF CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS MORE
NEGATIVE THAN POSITIVE
Would you say your overall opinion of [INSERT NAME] is very favorable, mostly
favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
Favorable
Nancy Pelosi
Unfavorable
34%
Harry Reid
27%
John Boehner
26%
49%
27%
Ted Cruz
Mitch McConnell
Unsure
23%
14%
No rating
39%
17%
34%
50%
23%
33%
40%
37%
40%
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Source: Pew Research Center Poll, October 9-13, 2013

15. DEMOCRATS HOLD SLIGHT LEAD ON
CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT FOR 2014
Thinking about the next congressional elections that will be coming up about a year from now…
If the elections for U.S. Congress were being held TODAY, would you vote for the Republican
Party’s candidate or the Democratic Party’s candidate for Congress in your district?
Republican candidate
49%
43%
Democratic candidate
Other / DK/Ref
Unsure
14%
8%
14
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, October 9-13, 2013

16. Party Images
15

17. DISAPPROVAL OF GOP PEAKS IN BLAME FOR
THE BUDGET CRISIS
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way [INSERT] is/are handling
negotiations over the federal budget?
% Disapprove
74%
63%
56%
50%
61%
53%
Republicans in Congress
Democrats in Congress
Barack Obama
9/29/2013
10/6/2013
10/13/2013
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Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, October 9-13, 2013

18. PARTY IMAGES: REPUBLICAN FAVORABILITY
SINKS TO RECORD LOW; FALLS 10% SINCE
SEPTEMBER
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Democrat
% Favorable
55% 54% 57% 55%
52%
51% 52% 50%
61%
53%
43% 45%
56% 55%
55%
47%
52%
51%
59%
48%
52%
Republican
48%
55% 56% 53%
42%
51%
36%
42% 41%
34%
46% 45% 46% 47%
43%
41%
44% 42%
39% 38%
28%
Please tell me whether you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each of the following parties. How
about -- [the Republican Party / the Democratic Party]?
17
Source: Historical Gallup Poll Data

19. UNFAVORABLE VIEWS OF THE TEA PARTY HAVE
RISEN
Unfavorable Views of Tea Party Have
Nearly Doubled Since 2010
Very Unfavorable Views of Tea Party
Have Tripled Since 2010
18
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, October 9-13, 2013

20. PERCEIVED NEED FOR A THIRD PARTY REACHES
NEW HIGH
In your view, do the Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job
representing the American people, or do they do such a poor job that a third major
party is needed?
19
Source: Gallup Poll, October 3-6, 2013

21. GPG Research
GPG has a full-scale internal research team offering the full complement of qualitative and
quantitative public opinion research services. We use research to inform message
development and communication strategy, as well as to help clients assess and monitor
critical issues and track the effectiveness of strategic communication campaigns.
GPG has a deep experience conducting research about complex economic and political topics
with diverse audiences. We go beyond the standard Q&A, using innovative, projective
techniques to uncover key insights. The result is actionable research that helps shape our
clients’ messaging and strategy.
For more information about this presentation
or to find out more about GPG’s research capabilities contact:
Jason Boxt (jboxt@gpgdc.com)
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