Do students still support the president? See our exclusive poll resultsby John LittleAs the economy has faltered, so have President Barack Obama's approval ratings. A recent poll found him hovering around 50 percent, much lower than when he was elected three years ago.City College students are concerned about the country’s weakened financial and job markets and it shows in their opinion of presidential performance. A recent poll of over 200 students showed that over half of the sample rate Obama’s performance as less than worthy. Only 46 percent gave him a thumbs up.In our survey, the vast majority of students identified themselves as Democrats, 62 percent, compared to 11 percent Republican and 27 percent Independent.Nearly 70 percent of CCNY respondents called the economy the nation's most important political issue. Daniel DiSalvo, a CCNY assistant professor and author of the book Engines of Change, says that a recent uptick in the employment rate may help the president. “I think that when it comes to the economy things are beginning to pick up," he says.What about the Republican challengers? Though Mitt Romney has overshadowed the field, students surveyed favored Ron Paul. Forty-six percent believe he is most qualified, compared to 32 percent for Romney. One woman surveyed admitted that she chose Romney because he was the best looking candidate. Others pointed to Romney as the most qualified because of his success and business savvy.
Overall, with the election over a year away, many students aren't that interested in the race--yet. Some who participated in the survey had no idea who the Republican candidates were and knew little about the State of the Union. Professor DiSalvo reminds students that it's your civic duty to stay informed about politics and national affairs.
“Read and learn as much about the candidates and the parties as [you] can," he says. "Consume media from lots of different sources before making up your mind. Look at what the candidates themselves say not just how journalists interpret what they say.”