Americans are growing increasingly pessimistic about the state of the economy as unemployment remains high and consumer confidence declines. While reducing the budget deficit is viewed as important, there is no consensus on how best to achieve this. Opinions of President Obama's handling of the economy have weakened, with more Americans now trusting Republicans to do a better job on economic issues.

1. The Public Opinion Landscape – The Economy

2. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Slide Perceptions of Economic Conditions / Views of the Future Perceptions of Obama & Congress Budget Battle Lowering the Deficit and Making Sacrifices Reforming the Tax Code 3 14 23 26 31

3. 2 SUMMARY Americans growing gloomier and more pessimistic about the economy. The issue of unemployment is having a large impact on voters. Deficit is a 2nd tier issue, but viewed as important. Obama’s overall job ratings have dropped since May bump. The President’s weak approval on the economy and budget deficit are driving his negative numbers. Increasingly, Americans trust GOP more to handle the economy. At first glance, Americans not inclined to favor raising the debt ceiling. But with more information, opinions can be changed. Americans want government to keep budget deficit down, but opinions differ on how best to lower the deficit.

4. 3 Perceptions of Economic Conditions / Views of the Future

5. AMERICANS SEE LITTLE CHANGE IN THEIR VIEW OF THE U.S. ECONOMY 4 What is your current view of the economy in the U.S.? Note: “Not sure” results are not shown. Source: Bloomberg News National Poll, June 17-20, 2011

6. AMERICANS DIVIDED IN THEIR PROJECTIONS OF ANOTHER RECESSION 5 Over the next few months, do you think the U.S. economy is headed into another recession, where unemployment rises again, housing prices decline again, and there is no economic growth, or do you think this will not happen? Source: NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, June 9-13, 2011

7. ECONOMIC CONCERNS TOP MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS: Mentions of Unemployment Trending Up 6 Economy Unemploy. Deficit Healthcare What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? Source: Gallup Poll, June 9-12, 2011

8. ECONOMY & JOB SITUATION VIEWED AS WORSE THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO 7 Compared to four years ago… Note: “Don’t know” results are not shown. Source: Fox News Poll, May 15-17, 2011

9. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX HAS FALLEN OVER 13 POINTS SINCE FEBRUARY PEAK 8 2009 2010 2011 Source: Consumer Confidence Index, The Conference Board

10. CURRENT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS LOWER TODAY THAN IT WAS DURING FINANCIAL CRISIS AND PAST TRAGEDIES 9 Source: Consumer Confidence Index, The Conference Board

11. RISE IN NUMBERS THAT BELIEVE NOW IS A BAD TIME TO INVEST IN STOCK MARKET AND REAL ESTATE 10 STOCK MARKET REAL ESTATE Would you say now is a good time or bad time to invest in the stock market? And would you say that now is a good or bad time to invest in real estate? Note: “DK/REF” results not shown Source: AP-GfK Poll, June 16-20, 2011.

12. HALF EXPECT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TO RETURN TO PRE-RECESSION LEVEL WITH 5 YEARS, BUT SIMILAR NUMBER EXPECT IT WILL TAKE LONGER 11 When do you expect the U.S. unemployment rate will return to about 5%, where it was before the recession hit in 2008—within the next two years, next three to five years, next six to 10 years, longer than 10 years from now or never? Note: “Not sure” results are not shown. Source: Bloomberg News National Poll, June 17-20, 2011

13. OUTSOURCING AND FEDERAL DEBT SEEN AS MAJOR REASONS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HASN’T CHANGED 12 I’m going to mention some possible reasons the unemployment rate has not changed much in the last two or three years. For each, please tell me if you think this is a major reason, a minor reason, or not relevant to the unemployment rate. Note: Ranked by “Major Reason” Source: Bloomberg News National Poll, June 17-20, 2011

14. AMERICANS SEE SPENDING AND TAX CUTS AS SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO GROW ECONOMY & CREATE JOBS 13 Which of the following approaches is more likely to be successful in growing the U.S. economy and creating jobs? Note: “Not sure” results are not shown. Source: Bloomberg News National Poll, June 17-20, 2011

15. 14 Perceptions of Obama & Congress

16. OBAMA’S OVERALL APPROVAL RATING SEES SLIGHT DROP; STRONGEST ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, WEAKER ON DOMESTIC PRIORITIES 15 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling [ITEM]? OVERALL JOB APPROVAL DISAPPROVE 49.9% APPROVE 45.3% Source: ABC News / Washington Post Poll, June 2-5, 2011 Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data (as of July 6, 2011)

17. 16 OVERALL OBAMA APPROVAL ON PAR WITH THAT OF CLINTON & REAGAN Job Approval Ratings for Prior Presidents in June of Third Year Weekly Approval Rating Average June 27– July 3 Source: Historical Gallup Poll Data

18. INCREASINGLY, PEOPLE TRUST GOP MORE TO HANDLE ECONOMY 17 Note: “Both (vol.)”, “Neither (vol.) and “No opinion” results are not shown. Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 2-5, 2011

19. SIMILAR SHIFT TOWARD GOP HANDLING THE FEDERAL DEFICIT 18 Note: “Both (vol.)”, “Neither (vol.) and “No opinion” results are not shown. Who do you trust to do a better job handling the federal budget deficit - Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 2-5, 2011

20. TRUST IN GOP IN CONGRESS ON PAR WITH THAT OF OBAMA ON MANY ISSUES 19 Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Note: “Both (vol.)”, “Neither (vol.) and “No opinion” results are not shown. Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 2-5, 2011

21. 20 DISSASTISFACTION WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA’S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY Disapprove 57.0% Approve 36.4% Source: Pollster.com composite measure as of June 28, 2011

22. 21 CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS STILL SEEN AS SITUATION OBAMA HAS INHERITED When you think about the current economic conditions, do you feel that this is a situation that Barack Obama has inherited or is this a situation his policies are mostly responsible for? Note: “Some of both (VOL)” and “Not sure” results not shown Source: NBC/WSJ Survey, June 9-13, 2011

23. 22 MAJORITY BELIEVE IT WILL BE HARD TO VOTE FOR OBAMA IN 2012 IF ECONOMY ISN’T BETTER Please tell me if you strongly agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree, or strongly disagree? 37% DISAGREE 61% AGREE In 2012, President Obama will have had his chance – if the economy isn’t substantially better by election day, it will be very hard to vote for him. Note: “Not sure” results are not shown. Source: Bloomberg National News Poll, June 17-20, 2011

24. 23 Budget Battle

25. AT FIRST, PLURALITY DO NOT THINK CONGRESS SHOULD RAISE DEBT CEILING 24 The federal debt ceiling acts as a check and limit on the country’s overall liabilities, including the federal deficit and other debts. When the U.S. Treasury needs to issue debt above the ceiling in order to avoid going into bankruptcy and defaulting on its obligations. Congress needs to vote to raise the ceiling. Congress is again currently considering whether and how much to extend the debt ceiling. Do you think Congress should or should not raise the debt ceiling? If you don’t know enough to have an opinion, please just say so. Source: NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, June 9-13, 2011

26. BUT WITH MORE INFORMATION, MORE FAVOR RAISING THE DEBT CEILING THAN THOSE THAT DO NOT 25 Now, I’m going to read you two statements about the debt ceiling and please tell me which comes closer to your point of view: Statement A: Some people say do not raise the debt ceiling because doing so will make it easier to increase spending and harder to reduce the deficit, and will increase the debt held by other countries and passed on to the next generation. 42% Do NOT Raise Debt Ceiling 46% Raise Debt Ceiling Statement B: Other people say raise the debt ceiling because failing to do so could stop the government from meeting its obligations, including payments to those on Social Security and in the military, and cause a shock to the economy. Efforts to control should be comprehensive and long-term rather than artificial and short-term. Mixed/Some of both. Not sure. Source: NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, June 9-13, 2011

27. 26 Lowering the Deficit and Making Sacrifices

28. AMERICANS WANT GOVERNMENT TO KEEP BUDGET DEFICIT DOWN 27 Which of the following two statements comes closer to your point of view? Statement A: The President and Congress should worry more about boosting the economy even though it may mean larger budget deficits now and in the future. Statement B: The President and Congress should worry more about keeping the budget deficit down, even though it may mean it will take longer for the economy to recover. Source: NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, June 9-13, 2011

29. MAJORITY BELIEVES THAT THE EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE BUDGET SHOULD BE DONE NOW, USING A COMBINATION OF SPENDING CUTS AND TAX INCREASES 28 Overall, what do you think is the best way to reduce the federal budget deficit – (by cutting federal spending), (by increasing taxes), or by a combination of both? Do you think that efforts to reduce the federal deficit (should be taken now), or (should wait until after the economy improves)? Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 2-5, 2011

30. 29 AMERICANS DIVIDED ON WHO THEY TRUST TO FIND RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN CUTTING SPENDING THAT IS NOT NEEDED AND CONTINUING SPENDING THAT IS When it comes to finding the right balance between [cutting government spending that is not needed] and [continuing government spending that is needed], who do you trust to do a better job – Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Note: “Both (vol.)”, “Neither (vol.) and “No opinion” results are not shown. Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 2-5, 2011

31. TO CUT DEFICIT, MOST APPROVE OF TAXING HIGHER INCOMES, REDUCING MILITARY COMMITMENTS 30 Thinking about ways to reduce the deficit and size of the national debt, please tell me if you would approve or disapprove of each of the following? Source: Pew Research Center, May 25-30, 2011

32. 31 Reforming the Tax Code

33. MAJORITY SUPPORT LOWERING CORPORATE TAX RATE – WHEN TIED TO CLOSING LOOPHOLES 32 Congress is currently considering revising the federal tax system for businesses and companies. For each of the following things Congress is considering, please tell me whether you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose each idea. Oppose 44% Oppose 28% Oppose 28% DK/Refused 14% DK/Refused 14% Asked of half sample DK/Refused 11% Asked of half sample Closing all of the loopholes and exemptions that benefit companies, but at the same time lowering the corporate tax rate from 35%- where it is today- to 25% Lowering the corporate tax rate from 35%-where it is today- to 25% Source: The Glover Park Group, May 20-26, 2011

34. FIXING THE TAX SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES MORE POPULAR THAN LOWERING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE 33 Which of these statements best describes your attitude about this potential tax change? Note: “DK/Neither” results not shown Source: The Glover Park Group, May 20-26, 2011

35. AMERICANS DIVIDED ON ELIMINATING OR REDUCING TAX DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS 34 Proposals to change the income tax system would reduce the overall rate you pay in exchange for also reducing or eliminating some tax deductions and credits. For each, please tell me if you would favor or oppose eliminating or reducing the deduction? Note: “Not Sure” results not shown Source: Bloomberg News National Poll, June 17-20, 2011

36. 35 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 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: David Cantor (dcantor@gpgdc.com)