IN LATEST POLL
President Trump’s approval rating is at the highest level since he took office, according to a poll released Sunday.
Forty-four percent of those surveyed gave Trump a thumbs-up for the way he’s handling the job, an increase of 5 percentage points since April and 2 percentage points more than his previous high of 42 percent in April 2017, the ABC News/Washington Post poll found.
That’s against 53 percent who said they disapprove.
The president gets high marks for his handling of the economy, with 51 percent approving versus 42 percent disapproving. But he gets lower marks on immigration, where 57 percent disapprove, and taxes, with 49 percent disapproving, as well as health care — with a 54 percent disapproval rating.
When asked how much credit Trump deserves for the economy, respondents were split, with 47 percent saying a “great deal or good amount” and 48 percent opting for “some or hardly any.”
Sixty-five percent said Trump “has acted in a way that’s unpresidential” and 28 percent said his behavior has been “fitting and proper.”
Still, 59 percent said Congress should not begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, while 37 percent say it should. The numbers for those who say proceedings should begin have fallen from a high of 49 percent in August 2018, while the numbers for those against it have risen from 46 percent in August 2018.
Asked about the intensity of support for their candidate, Democrats in the poll appear to have an edge over Republicans.
Seventy-three percent of respondents who back Democratic candidates said it’s “extremely important” Trump doesn’t win a second term, while 16 percent said it is “very important” and 11 percent said it’s “less important.”
Among Trump supporters, 52 percent said they believe it’s “extremely important” for the president to win a second term — 25 percent said it’s “very important” and 23 percent said it’ s “less important.”
Trump’s average approval/disapproval ratings have been consistent in his first 2 ¹ /2 years in office, with 56 percent disapproving and 39 percent approving.
His average approval rating is the lowest on record at the same period for other presidents going back to Harry Truman.
He’s closest to former presidents Gerald Ford’s 47 percent approve, 37 percent disapprove, Bill Clinton’s 51-44 percentage and Jimmy Carter’s 51-33 percentage. Former President Barack Obama’s average approval/disapproval rating 2 ¹/2 years into his first term was 54- 42 percent.
But in matchups with the Democratic presidential candidates among all adults, former Vice President Joe Biden leads Trump by 14 percentage points, Sen. Kamala Harris of California leads by 8 points, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is ahead by 7, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont by 6 and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg by 4.
Asked about the issues driving the 2020 election, the poll found the economy, immigration and health care topped the list with support from about 80 percent of the respondents. Foreign policy, gun violence, issues of special interest to women and taxes also garnered the support of about seven in 10 respondents. Abortion came in at 61 percent and climate change at 54 percent. Rides econ wave, but 65% call him unpresidential