WPA's Key Weekend_Charts_120224

WPA’s Key Weekend Charts February 24, 2012

WPA’s Key Weekend Charts

As part of our continuing effort to keep our clients and friends up-to-date on the political

environment as we head toward Election Day, 2012, we’ll be distributing these weekly data updates

every Friday morning.

In each update you can expect to find the following key indicators tracked:

• Direction of the Country

• Obama Job Approval

• National Unemployment

• Obama Approval on the Economy

• Generic Congressional Ballot

• National & per capita debt

In addition, each week we’ll feature a few charts showing what we think is the most interesting and

timely new data from that week. This week we have:

• The price of gas since Obama’s inauguration.

• Recent polling on the Keystone pipeline.

• Federal debt per household and federal spending per household under the President’s new

plan.

Weekly Summary

Gas prices are rising higher as the results of a July, 2010 moratorium on offshore drilling continue

to make themselves felt.

• The recent Keystone pipeline rejection will only further increase energy prices.

The Obama Administration’s attempt to shift responsibility for denying the Keystone pipeline

becomes more clear when you look at recent polling on the pipeline.

• More than two thirds of Americans (67%) want the pipeline to be built.

• Only a quarter (25%) oppose the pipeline.

Further federal debt and federal spending increases form the core of the President’s new plan to

continue the slight economic growth we’ve seen.

• Federal spending would rise to $44,000 per household under the president’s new plan.

• Each taxpayer’s share of the existing debt alone, without increased spending, is

$136,056.

Americans remain unhappy with the direction their country is heading.

Source: Reuters/Ipsos National Poll

55%

40% 38%

25% 21%

38%

54% 57%

69%

74%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

Direction of Country

Right Direction Wrong Direction

62%

32%

Obama’s job approval has held steady since last week, and is up slightly from one month ago.

Source: Real Clear Politics

One Week Ago One Month Ago

Approve 49% 46%

Disapprove 47% 48%

46%

52%

44% 43%

49% 49%

42%

51% 52%

47%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Jan-12 Feb-12

Obama Job Approval

Approve Disapprove

Gallup survey data indicates that despite the January drop to 8.3%, unemployment may be on the rise again.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & Gallup Gallup data is not seasonally adjusted

January, 2012 8.3%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

National Unemployment Rate

7.00% 7.50% 8.00% 8.50% 9.00% 9.50%

10.00% 10.50% 11.00% 11.50%

Gallup Data

9.0% 10.3%

8.3%

Americans remain unhappy with Obama’s economic performance.

Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll

58%

50%

46% 40% 36%

44% 38% 49%

51%

59% 62%

53%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Feb-09 May-09 Aug-09 Nov-09 Feb-10 May-10 Aug-10 Nov-10 Feb-11 May-11 Aug-11 Nov-11 Feb-12

Obama on the Economy

Approve Disapprove

After gaining a slight edge last week, Democrats have returned to a tie with Republicans on the generic ballot.

Source: Real Clear Politics

One Week Ago One Month Ago

Republicans 44% 44%

Democrats 45% 42%

41% 42% 43% 42% 45% 43%

46% 43% 44% 42% 43% 43%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Jan-12 Feb-12

Generic Congressional Ballot

Democrat Republican

$12,016

$136,056

$15,388,044,029,559

Interest per citizen is over $12,016 as the national debt continues to climb.

Source: USDebtclock.org

U.S. National Debt

Interest Per Citizen

Each Taxpayer’s Share

Gas prices are on the rise again. This latest jump seems to be correlated with both the Keystone pipeline decision and continued unrest in the Middle East.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

$1.00

$1.50

$2.00

$2.50

$3.00

$3.50

$4.00

Gas Prices Since Obama's Inauguration

April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon

Oil Spill

Feb 19, 2012 Iran halts exports

to UK, France

Jan 18, 2012 Obama rejects

Keystone Pipeline

Mar 19, 2011 Obama announces Brazilian

oil drilling partnership

July 12, 2010 Obama’s offshore

drilling moratorium

A vast majority of Americans prefer to see the Keystone XL pipeline built.

Source: Fox News via Anderson Robbins Research (D)/Shaw & Company

(R) Feb 6-9, 2012. n=1,110 registered voters

Should be built 67%

Unsure 8%

Should not be built 25%

"A proposed oil pipeline known as Keystone XL would transport oil from Canada to

refineries in the United States. Do you think the pipeline should be built or not?"

The President’s budget increases debt per household and overall spending per household for Americans.

Source: John Hinderaker, Powerline & BEA, U.S. Dep of Commerce

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

Q1 2009 Q4 2009 Q3 2010 Q2 2011

GDP Growth

3.2%

For additional information about this or any other of our services, please feel free to contact:

Bryon Allen Partner and COO

202.470.6300

E-mail:

[email protected]

Chris Perkins Partner

202.494.3084

E-mail:

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Chris Wilson Partner and CEO

405.286.6500

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Brian Smith Vice President

405.640.9517

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WPA's Key Weekend_Charts_120224

Economy & Finance

Transcript of WPA's Key Weekend_Charts_120224