Obama has slim support of Utahns after 100 days

While much of America really likes the job President Barack Obama has done in his first 100 days in office — a milestone reached today — Utahns are more reserved, with a bare majority approving his actions.

A just-completed survey for the Deseret News and KSL-TV shows that 53 percent of Utahns strongly or somewhat approve of the job Obama is doing, while 43 percent strongly or somewhat disapprove. The survey, completed this week by Dan Jones & Associates, is of 254 adults statewide, with a margin of error of 6.2 percent.

Meanwhile, a new Washington Post/ABC News survey shows that 69 percent of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing, and only 26 percent disapprove.

Considering that Utah is one of the reddest states in the nation, it's not surprising that many GOP officials don't like Obama's actions, while local Democrats do.

State House Minority Leader David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, says Obama has brought hope, along with action, to the United States, at a time when the nation critically need both.

"He's been very aggressive seeking common-sense solutions," Litvack said. "I most appreciate his inclusiveness — looking for a variety of perspectives."

Even state GOP vice chairman Todd Weiler, who attended Obama's inauguration, said he can admire and respect the president while disagreeing with him on a number of issues, including stimulus spending.

"He's on the left, and I'm on the right. But as a human being, I believe he's creating a great example for our country," Weiler said.

Political observers also said the president's personality is helping with that support, at least in the short term.

"Utahns, like the nation, are giving President Obama the benefit of the doubt," said Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics. "He's such a likable man in many ways that their concerns with some of the specific issues are not taking their toll on him yet."

The Dan Jones poll shows that Utahns' opinions on the new president are greatly politicized: Democrats love him (Jones did not find one Democrat who disapproved of the job Obama is doing), Republicans dislike him (64 percent disapprove of his job performance, only 34 percent approve) and most independents like him (59 percent approve, while 35 percent disapprove).

Since Republicans outnumber Democrats in Utah two-to-one, it's no surprise that the president doesn't do very well here.