Frank Newport from Gallup has conducted a monthly study showing President Obama’s job approval rating differing amongst various ethnic groups. The gap between how various groups feel about the president is growing. Issues of race have been in the news lately, however the Gallup poll shows approval ratings for Obama are constant among blacks for the most part in the last several months but has turned negative for other ethnic groups. Newport gives us a good history reminder by comparing Obama to Clinton around this time among African-Americans. Clinton had high approval ratings among African-Americans during his presidency as well but less disparity between other groups.
This data shows that differences in empathy for (and with) Obama influence how people view him and the job he is doing. The “average” person may be wondering, “Does President Obama care about my issue”? Follow up surveys and data will help statisticians analyze the “Obama Effect” and race relations but in a failing economy, all ethnic groups tend to be less happy. Read the full Frank Newport article and Gallup Poll.
