Poll: Majority give Obama, feds failing grade on oil spill response

May 27, 2010

USA Today

The response to the disaster by energy giant BP, President Obama and the federal government all get terrible grades from Americans in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.

Nearly three-fourths of those surveyed Monday and Tuesday say BP is doing a "poor" or "very poor" job in handling the calamity. Six of 10 say that of the federal government. And a 53% majority give Obama a poor rating.

USA TODAY's Susan Page has more from the new survey.

The catastrophe has boosted concern about the environment over development of new energy supplies -- a long-time balancing act in American politics.

Now, a majority say protection of the environment should be given priority, "even at the risk of limiting energy supplies."

The 55%-39% divide on that question was a reversal of American views in March, before the April 20 explosion sent crude oil spewing into the gulf. Then, by 50%-43% Americans said development U.S. energy supplies should be given priority, "even if the environment suffers to some extent."

On a similar question, those surveyed divided 50%-43% over whether the environment should be protected "even at the risk of curbing economy growth" or if growth should be given priority, "even if the environment suffers to some extent."

That's a big swing from March, too. Then, by 53%-38% Americans chose economic growth as their priority.

The poll of 1,049 adults, taken by landline and cell phone, has a margin of error of +/-4 percentage points.

There is still majority support for increasing offshore drilling for oil and gas in U.S. coastal areas: 52% favor, 44% oppose. Just one in five oppose all offshore drilling. Obama has declared a moratorium on new offshore drilling for now.

Nearly everyone polled says they're following the story closely; close to half say they're watching it "very closely." Three of four call it a disaster -- and 37% say it's the worst environmental disaster in the United States of the past 100 years.

Who should be in charge of cleanup efforts? More than two-thirds say BP, not the federal government.

For more on the political repercussions of the oil spill, see Thursday's USA TODAY. Yahoo, which also participated in the poll, has its own take on the findings that you can read here.

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