Michelle Obama tops hubby Barack in popularity, new poll finds, but...

And now some politically/socially revealing numbers from a plethora of polls:

While her husband's popularity takes a summertime dip, First Lady Michelle Obama's favorability ratings among Americans climb high.

According to a new online Harris Poll of 2,177 Americans, after nearly six months of an Obama administration, more than two-thirds (68%) give her a thumbs-up while less than one-third (32%) disapprove. In comparison, after nearly six years in the White House Laura Bush had a 64% approval and a 36% disapproval.

This compares with President Obama's recent ratings in a similar Harris Poll showing his popularity dipping from 59% to 54% while his disapproval rose from 41% to 46%. On the economy Michelle's partner fared even worse, with just 43% now approving of his handling of the economy and 57% disapproving.

That's understandable. Starting a White House vegetable garden and telling schoolchildren to work hard for good grades while being a poised fashion icon is somewhat less controversial than the president trying to explain a national unemployment rate soaring past the maximum his administration precisely predicted last winter, despite billions in stimulus spending.

Three-quarters of Americans (77%) think the first lady is a positive influence on her husband; 84% of women think so while 69% of men agree. But even a majority of....

... Republicans (53%) think that, while Democrats are nearly unanimous on that question (94%).

However, the White House, which had Mrs. Obama actively announce millions in economic stimulus spending last week, might want to be careful mixing her up with policy initiatives a la Hillary Clinton. Very few (9%) think the unelected first lady should have a lot of influence over government policy (14% of Democrats, 8% of independents and 5% of Republicans). Back in 2006, 13% thought that was a good idea.

In other numerical revelations, just 4% of Americans say that Wall Street or credit card companies are honest or trustworthy. A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll (that is, we'll) all die before the next election.

Interestingly, in the crucial battleground state of Ohio, Obama's approval rating has plunged  to 49% since May, down 13 points, according to Quinnipiac. The same outfit found the approval of Democrat Gov. Ted Strickland, a prominent Obama campaigner last year, has fallen to 46%, just four points higher than his disapproval the year before a re-election bid.

Up through May a growing number of Americans felt the country was starting to move in the right direction. That month 44% thought things were heading right, while 56% disagreed. But something happened in the next month -- perhaps all the spending talk and deficit clouds spooked them -- because by June those answering right track slipped to 43% and those saying wrong track inched up to 57%.

On foreign affairs, a new BBC News World America/Harris Poll finds only one in five Americans (21%) are confident that Pakistan can defeat the Taliban within its borders. Only a few more (28%) believe that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe, as that government claims.

Not that any seems likely from the Obama administration, but three out of four Americans want no direct U.S. intervention in Iran's recent democratic struggles and fatal protests.

And a majority of Americans (52%) say that North Korea is a very serious threat to American security, with three out of four believing that rogue land has missiles that could reach the United States.

Another poll finds Americans are finally buying into the Obama-Biden refrain about this being the worst economic times since the Great Depression.

Some 62% have taken to buying more generic brands to save money, 47% now take lunch to work, 36% get fewer haircuts, 29% have trimmed magazine subscriptions, 20% dry-clean less and a surprising one in five (19%) have stopped buying morning coffee en route to work (see photo above of 80% of a cup of coffee).

On the upside for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and talking, fully 54% have not changed their cellphone service or even considered that to save money. Some things remain sacred even in the worst times since the 1930s, which was even before Joe Biden became a senator in preparation for the busy vice presidency.

-- Andrew Malcolm

In other poll news, 100% of those clicking here got Twitter alerts for each new Ticket item. While others follow here @latimestot

Photo: A North Korean soldier expresses displeasure over a camera aimed at him. Credit: Associated Press.

Comments

[Old Person]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

Nice. Very nice. Very, um, empathetic, caring and respectful of seniors. Probably some day your children and grandchildren will glibly say the same of you.

[Lonni]

I don't pay much attention to polls because they don't really cover the total citizenry of the US. Polling a little over two thousand people is pretty lean compared to over three hundred million. As that may be, however, what caught my attention in this article was the statement referring to people over 64 who are more disapproving of Obama. The statement was "Maybe they'll die before the next election.". What a crass statement! I'm not quite 64 but I intend to live long enough for the next election and beyond and, like the others, disapprove of Obama and will vote against him.

[wogpy]

What did the people think when they voted a Marxist like Obama in. He wants to not only take over our auto industry, insurance industry, financial industry, now he going after our energy industry with this cap and trade?? We cannot let him get away with it. We need to encourage the congress to impeach this Marxist, have a recall election,
or just get the electoral vote to vote in favor of this country instead of blindly following a traitor that Acorn got elected in the first place. His next target is health care He gets that he will have us in a position that we cannot get out of easily. Hell he gets health care we will have no more choices left. Old people will die just because they are old. Just like in England, Canada, and Sweden. WE DON'T NEED THAT KIND OF CONTROL!!!!!!
THAT IS AKIN TO SLAVERY.

[Kev]

The world is but a stage- you are seeing some amazing acting, the Obama's are a fraud for the real world government- the bankers.

[Holy God]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

Can it get any uglier than this?

[jch]

With ACORN's help, Michelle has an 115% approval rating!

[EVelten]

It is totally ridiculous to report that "something happened in the next month" to change American's feelings about whether the country is headed in the right direction when the numbers are statistically identical. A change in approval from 44% to 43% on a poll of this nature is well within the range of reporting error and it is TOTALLY misleading to report this as a meaningful change. Can we please have a half-way knowledgeable statistician review LA Times articles about polling before a writer decides to mislead the public.

[Doug Liser]

On the upside for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and talking, fully 54%...

Upside? That means that 46% already have made cuts. Considering the number of people still riding out 2 year contracts, that's a pretty sobering number. MetroPCS has been gainig customers like crazy. Who wants to pay $100/month for a fancy brand-name plan when you can get all you can eat for less than $50.

[Don]

People, look at the picture of the author.

Methinks that the "die before next election" comment was self-effacing humor.

[Bridey]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

This is indeed an attention-getting remark. In context, it also seems pretty clearly to have been intended ironically.

(My apologies to Mr. Malcolm if it was meant literally, in which case he'd be a buffoon or worse.)

[EdSki]

Maybe they will die before the next election? What happened to your humanity? You want your fellow citizens to die because they disagree with your politics?

There was a time in this country when liberal democrats proudly proclaimed "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life, your right to say it." I know. I was one of them.

And the liberals and democrats have sunk to this. And the press sees fit to print it.

What a waste of a once noble movement.

[Arkie Hogg]

re: "Maybe they'll die before the next election."

And maybe the L.A. Times will go out of business, and you'll lose your job, before the next election. Hey, an old fart can dream, can't he?

[we59]

Michelle Obama is no beauty queen and she dress too tacky for a first lady. She said america is a mean country but most of the meanness seems to be coming from hateful democrats. What important things have she done since becoming first lady that would make her popular? I have seen none.

[Erick]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

This is just unforgivably stupid. This poor fool couldn't a job at McDonalds. I guess that's why he's at a bankrupt irrelevant newspaper. Won't you guys just liquidate already?

[Ed Jameson]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

Is it any wonder the LA Times and its employees will soon be put out to pasture? Good riddance, liberal schmucks! We will laugh out loud when you are out of work and on welfare.

[Brian]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

It may be more likely that the Los Angeles Times has gone out of business by then.

[mymy]

Thanks although I'm sixty I voted for McCain.Sorry to upset you but I have every intention of living way past 12.You should be happy I'm alive.It is people like me that pay for all the spending the Democrats are doing

[reginaldL]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

Yeah, that's the spirit! Put them on ObamaCare - it'll save loads! And you can get rid of opposition. Win-Win!

[Old People Everywhere]

"Maybe they'll die before the next election"??? Really?

[Rich M.]

Wow. Somebody needs a life if they spend their time gathering poll results :).

[Uh, Clem]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

On the other hand, maybe Andrew Malcolm will be run over by a speeding bus sometime between now and the next election. Could happen. Since I'm one of those "seniors over 64", maybe Malcom could tell me why I should care if it did?

[Obamashuga Nuts]

I was planning on dying before the next election but why make this blogger happy? I'll live and bring ten people to the polls with me to vote against Obama.

[Roxanna]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

You included?

[Andrew in Toronto]

Don't worry. If Obama's Medicare plan goes through, alot of those old folks will be dead soon enough.

[mike d.]

"A majority of young people still approve of Obama's job performance, but a majority of seniors over 64 now don't (54%). Maybe they'll die before the next election."

Dude you are one sick and twisted piece of work. A demented perverted individual. No wonder the LAT is going out of business.

Obviously you wont mind if someone writes about their hope that you too die before long so we dont have to read your hateful drivel posing as hip edgy blogging.

In a world of decent honest journalism you would be out of a job today. More likely, however, you will be the Toast of Srping Street for "speaking truth to power."