CBS NEWS POLL For release: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 6:30 pm ET

Post-shutdown: Negative Views of Congress, Government, Countrys Direction October 18-21, 2013 85% of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing and 76% feel they dont have much say in what the government does historic highs for the CBS News Poll. 72% say the country is off on the wrong track up six points from before the government shutdown and the highest since December 2011. Most Americans are unhappy with both parties in Congress, but Republicans get a lower approval rating (18%) than Democrats (31%). 46% approve of the job the President is doing, while 49% disapprove. Americans are split on the budget agreement reached last week; 47% approve, 46% disapprove. There is widespread concern that Congress will have difficulty reaching a consensus on the budget and debt early next year. Congress The recent government shutdown and the debate over raising the debt ceiling have taken their toll on Americans perceptions of the legislative branch overall. In this poll conducted after the 16-day government shutdown ended, 85% of Americans disapprove of the way Congress does its job the highest percentage ever recorded since CBS began asking the question in 1977. Just 9% approve, matching the all-time low recorded two years ago. Job Approval of Congress Now 9/2013 7/2013 9% 14% 17% 85 80 76

Approve Disapprove

10/2011 9% 84

64% of Americans are very concerned Congress will have difficulty reaching agreements on the debt ceiling and funding the government when faced with deadlines early next year. Concern is widespread, and even a majority (58%) of those who approve of the current agreement are very concerned about what will happen next year. Concerned Congress Will Have Difficulty Reaching Agreement Early Next Year Total Reps Dems Inds Very 64% 71% 64% 60% Somewhat 25 22 25 26 Not 11 7 12 12

More broadly, the recent budget negotiations have made 64% of Americans pessimistic about Congress ability to deal with future issues affecting the country; only 11% are optimistic. Impact of Negotiations on Congress Ability to Deal with Future Issues Optimistic 11% Pessimistic 64 No effect 22 Government, Direction of the Country The poll finds disaffection with government generally too. 76% dont think they have much say in what the government does the highest number since 1990 when CBS News began asking this question. Majorities of Republicans (87%), Democrats (68%) and independents (77%) all feel they dont have much say in what the government does. More than three in four Tea Party supporters agree. How Much Say Do People Like You Have in What the Government Does? Now 5/2011 2/2010 7/2003 9/1999 10/1990 Good deal 8% 9% 8% 10% 9% 11% Some 15 21 21 33 38 30 Not much 76 69 70 56 52 58 Now, 72% of Americans think the country is off on the wrong track up six points from before the shutdown and the highest percentage since December 2011. Only 23% think the country is headed in the right direction. Direction of the Country 9/2013 7/2013 1/2013 29% 35% 38% 66 60 57

Right direction Wrong track

Now 23% 72

10/2012 40% 53

12/2011 21% 75

Views of the President, Congressional Leaders President Obamas job approval rating stands at 46%, but slightly more disapprove. President Obamas Job Rating 9/2013 7/2013 3/2013 43% 48% 45% 49 45 46

Approve Disapprove

Now 46% 49

2/2013 52% 38

3/2012 41% 47

Most Americans continue to disapprove of how Mr. Obama is handling the economy, the top issue among Americans overall. While 42% approve, 52% disapprove similar to last month. Americans are divided as to whether or not Mr. Obama showed strong qualities of leadership during the recent negotiations over the debt ceiling and government shutdown: 46% think he did, while more 50% - think he did not.

Did Barack Obama Show Strong Leadership During the Government Shutdown? Total Reps Dems Ind Did 46% 9% 78% 44% Did not 50 87 18 52 Both the leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate receive low job ratings, but more Americans disapprove of the job Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner is doing (65%) than Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (55%). Both leaders have net disapproval ratings even among members of their own party. Job Approval of Congressional Leaders John Boehner Harry Reid Now 1/2013 Now 1/2013 Approve 22% 29% 24% 29% Disapprove 65 49 55 45 Dont know 13 22 21 27 Overall, both Republicans and Democrats in Congress get low job approval ratings, but Republicans fare worse. While 31% of Americans approve of how the Democrats in Congress are doing their job, just 18% approve of how Republicans are doing theirs. Disapproval of Republicans in Congress has risen five percentage points since before the shutdown. Job Approval of the Parties in Congress Republicans in Congress Democrats in Congress Now 9/2013 Now 9/2013 18% 21% 31% 31% 78 73 65 62

Approve Disapprove

Democrats in Congress also get more support from members of their own party. Most Democrats (61%) approve of how their own Congressional delegation is doing its job; 39% of Republicans approve of the job Congressional Republicans are doing. Most Americans say the shutdown will matter when they evaluate their own member of Congress: 75% say their members vote and shutdown position will have a lot or some impact, including 41% who say it will matter a lot. How Much Will Shutdown Matter in Evaluating Your Own Representative? A lot 41% Some 34 Not much/none 22 As has historically been the case, Americans rate their own member of Congress better than Congress as a whole: 46% approve of their own member down four points from July - and 38% disapprove. Approval of Your Own Member of Congress? Now 7/2013 10/2008 46% 50% 43% 38 30 31 17 19 26

Approve Disapprove Dont know

12/2005 60% 24 16 3

The Deal The American public is divided on the agreement reached last week to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government until early next year. Most Republicans and Tea Party supporters disapprove of the deal, while most Democrats approve. Among independents, half disapprove. Agreement on Debt Ceiling and Funding Government Total Reps Dems Inds Tea Party Approve 47% 30% 64% 44% 36% Disapprove 46 60 31 49 62 Furthermore, Americans disagree with making changes to the health care law in the debt ceiling and government funding agreement. Three in four say the health care law should have been separate from any agreement. Americans across the political spectrum hold this view. Agreement on Debt Ceiling and Funding Government Should Have Total Reps Dems Inds Tea Party Been separate from health care law 75% 65% 83% 75% 67% Made changes to health care law 18 28 10 19 28 More Americans overall think the Republicans in Congress compromised their position too much (30%) than think so of President Obama and the Democrats (19%). 41% of Republicans say their own Congressional delegation compromised too much; 18% of Democrats say Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats did. Assessing Blame As they did when the shutdown first began, more Americans blame the Republicans in Congress than blame Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress for the partial government shutdown and the difficulties in reaching an agreement on the debt ceiling. Nearly half (46%) blame the Republicans in Congress, while just over a third (35%) blames Barack Obama and the Democrats. Who do You Blame More for the Government Shutdown/Debt Ceiling? Republicans in Congress 46% Barack Obama & Democrats in Congress 35 Both equally (vol.) 14 Blame continues to break down along party lines. Most Republicans (71%) blame Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats, while Democrats blame the Republicans in Congress in even higher numbers (85%). Independents are divided. While majorities of Americans think both sides were more concerned with political advantage than what was best for the country, more view the Republicans that way. . When Negotiating the Debt Ceiling and Govt Shutdown, Were They More Concerned With? Republicans in Congress Obama & Democrats What was right for the country 24% 42% Political advantage 71 55 4

The Tea Party Tea Party adherents were front-and-center during the shutdown, and views of the movement have become more negative. Just 14% of Americans now hold a favorable view of the Tea Party, down from 18% just as the government shutdown began, and unfavorable views are up seven points. Half of Americans still hold no view of the Tea Party or are unfamiliar with it, even after these high-profile political battles. Views of the Tea Party Now 10/1-2/2013 14% 18% 36 29 50 51

Favorable Unfavorable Undecided/havent heard

9/2011 21% 29 49

4/2011 26% 29 43

Conservative Republicans hold net positive views of the Tea Party (40% have a favorable opinion); Democrats and liberals hold especially negative views. 40% of Americans think the Tea Party has too much influence on the Republican Party, while 21% say it has the right amount, and 27% say it has too little. But these views differ greatly by ideology: 41% of conservatives say the Tea Party has too little influence, but 46% of moderates and 62% of liberals say it has too much. Tea Party Influence on Republican Party is Too much Too Little 40% 27 16% 65% 34% 21% 46% 62% 6% 41 18 26 41 21 15 59

All Republicans Democrats Independents Conservatives Moderates Liberals Tea Party Supporters

Right Amount 21 32 8 25 27 20 14 32

60% of Americans do not think the Tea Party reflects the views of most Americans, but Tea Party supporters do not think of themselves as a minority view in fact, the opposite. As with many groups, Tea Party supporters think their own views are held by most Americans. Does the Tea Party Reflect View of Most Americans? All Tea Party Supporters Non-Tea Party Supporters 28% 67% 18% 60 28 75

Yes No

The Political System Most Americans are also unhappy with the U.S. political system. Eight in 10 dont think the political system is working because of fighting and gridlock. Only 16% say the political system is working the way it should with both sides fighting for what they believe is right.

The U.S. Political System Is Total Reps Dems Inds Working with both sides fighting for what they want 16% 18% 11% 18% Not working due to fighting and gridlock 80 81 87 75

Tea Party 21% 74

Views of how things are going in Washington are similar to what they were at the beginning of the government shutdown. 86% are either dissatisfied or angry, including 39% who are angry.

_______________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone October 18-21, 2013 among 1,007 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by Social Science Research Solutions of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish . This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS NEWS POLL Post Shutdown October 18-21, 2013 Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 46 10 81 41 49 87 14 54 4 3 4 5

Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer

Sep13d % 43 49 7

Q2 Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track? Right direction Wrong track Don't know/No answer 23 72 4 7 93 * 38 54 7 21 75 4 29 66 5

Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer 42 52 7 7 88 5 74 19 7 37 56 7 41 54 5

Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job? Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer 9 85 6 9 83 8 6 90 4 12 83 6 14 80 6

Q7 Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer 18 78 4 39 57 4 5 94 1 16 78 6 21 73 6

Q8 Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer 31 65 4 7 88 5 61 36 3 22 74 4 31 62 8

Q9 How about the representative in Congress from your district? Do you approve or disapprove of the way your representative is handling his or her job? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 46 49 50 41 38 38 33 41 17 13 18 18

Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer

Jul13b % 50 30 19

Q12 Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Boehner is handling his job as Speaker of the House of Representatives? Jan13a 29 49 22

Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer

22 65 13

35 50 15

10 78 12

24 64 13

Q13 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Harry Reid is handling his job as Senate Majority Leader? Approve Disapprove Don't know/No answer 24 55 21 12 71 18 35 41 24 22 58 21 29 45 27

Q15 Which comes closest to your feelings about the way things are going in Washington are you enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry? Oct13a 2 8 44 43 3

Enthusiastic Satisfied but not enthusiastic Dissatisfied but not angry Angry Dont know/No Answer

1 12 47 39 2

1 7 39 54 *

1 17 56 25 2

1 11 46 41 2

Q16 How much say do you think people like yourself have about what the government does -- a good deal, some, or not much? May11b 9 21 69 1

A good deal Some Not much Dont know/No Answer

8 15 76 1

2 10 87 2

10 22 68 *

9 13 77 *

Q17 Which of these comes closer to your view? (the U.S. political system is working the way it is supposed to work with both sides fighting hard for what they believe is right) or (the U.S. political system is not working because of all the fighting and gridlock). TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem % % % 16 18 11 80 81 87 2 * 1 1 1 1

Political system is working Political system is not working Neither (vol.) Dont know/No Answer

Ind % 18 75 4 2

Q21 Who do you blame more for the partial government shutdown and the difficulties in reaching an agreement on the debt ceiling -- (the Republicans in Congress) or (Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress)? Republicans in Congress Barack Obama & Democrats Both equally (vol.) Reps for one/Dems/Obama other (vol.) Dont know/No Answer 46 35 14 1 4 12 71 14 2 85 7 7 * 1 36 37 20 1 6

Q24 During the recent negotiations over the debt ceiling and government shutdown, do you think Barack Obama showed strong qualities of leadership, or not? Strong qualities Not strong Dont know/No Answer 46 50 4 9 87 4 78 18 4 44 52 4

Q28 As you may know, Congress reached an agreement to raise the debt ceiling and fund the federal government until early next year. Do you approve or disapprove of this agreement? Approve Disapprove Dont know 47 46 7 30 60 10 64 31 5 44 49 6

Q29 Do you think the agreement to raise the debt ceiling and fund the federal government should have included changes to the 2010 health care law, or should the agreement have been kept separate from the 2010 health care law? Included health care changes Separate from health care changes Don't know/No answer 18 75 7 28 65 7 10 83 7 19 75 7

Q30 In negotiations about the debt ceiling and funding the federal government, did the Republicans in Congress compromise their positions too much, too little, or the right amount? Too much Too little Right amount Don't know/No answer 30 40 24 6 41 29 25 6 18 53 22 7 32 37 25 6 9

Q31 In negotiations about the debt ceiling and funding the federal government, did Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress compromise their positions too much, too little, or the right amount? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem % % % 19 17 18 42 68 19 35 10 58 5 5 5

Too much Too little Right amount Don't know/No answer

Ind % 21 44 31 5

Q32 During the recent disagreements in Washington about the debt ceiling and funding the federal government, do you think the Republicans in Congress were mostly doing what they thought was best for the country or were they mostly concerned about gaining political advantage? Best for country Political advantage Some of each (vol.) Don't know/No answer 24 71 2 3 50 45 2 3 8 89 1 1 23 71 2 4

Q33 During the recent disagreements in Washington about the debt ceiling and funding the federal government, do you think Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress were mostly doing what they thought was best for the country or were they mostly concerned about gaining political advantage? Best for country Political advantage Some of each (vol.) Don't know/No answer 42 55 1 2 14 84 1 2 74 24 1 1 34 62 1 3

Q35 Looking ahead, have the negotiations over the debt ceiling and the government shutdown made you optimistic about the ability of this Congress to deal with future issues affecting the country, have they made you pessimistic, or has the debate had no effect on your outlook for how this Congress will deal with future issues? Optimistic Pessimistic No effect Don't know/No answer 11 64 22 3 9 75 14 3 12 61 23 3 10 61 26 3

Q36 As you may know, the current agreement in Congress to raise the debt ceiling and fund the federal government is temporary, and the U.S. will face similar deadlines early next year. Are you concerned Congress will have difficulty reaching an agreement on these issues early next year, or not? Yes, very concerned Yes, somewhat concerned Not concerned Dont know/No answer 64 25 11 1 71 22 7 * 64 25 12 * 60 26 12 1

10

Q37 When you evaluate your own member of Congress, how much will his or her position on the debt ceiling and government shutdown matter will it matter a lot, somewhat, not much, or not at all? TOTAL RESPONDENTS Total Rep Dem % % % 41 40 40 34 33 37 14 20 11 8 6 7 3 1 5

A lot Somewhat Not much Not at all Don't know/No answer

Ind % 42 32 14 9 4

Q42 Is your opinion of the Tea Party movement favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about the Tea Party movement yet to have an opinion? Oct13a % 18 29 17 34 2

Favorable Not favorable Undecided Haven't heard enough Dont know/No answer

14 36 18 32 1

31 17 23 27 2

2 59 9 29 *

14 29 21 35 1

Q43 Regardless of your overall opinion, do you think the views of the people involved in the Tea Party movement generally reflect the views of most Americans, or not? Feb11a 27 45 2 26

Reflect most Americans Do not reflect most Americans Both/Some (vol.) Dont know/No answer

28 60 * 11

44 43 1 12

14 81 5

31 53 * 16

Q46 Do you think the Tea Party has too much influence, too little influence, or the right amount of influence in the Republican Party today? Oct13a 37 20 25 17

Too much Too little Right amount Dont know/No answer

40 27 21 12

16 41 32 11

65 18 8 8

34 26 25 15

Total Respondents Total Republicans Total Democrats Total Independents

UNWEIGHTED WEIGHTED 1007 240 344 423 239 324 444 11