These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
43% View Obama's Olympic Trip As Bad Idea, 36% Disagree
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Forty-three percent (43%) of Americans say it's a bad idea for President Obama to go overseas at this time to help Chicago make its final presentation to the International Olympic Committee. But 36% disagree and think it's a good move on the president's part.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that one-out-of-five adults (21%) are not sure if the trip to Copenhagen, Denmark is a good idea or a bad one.
But then Americans are almost evenly divided on how important it is for Chicago to be the host of the 2016 Summer 
Forty-eight percent (48%) say it is at least somewhat important while 49% take the opposite view. These figures include 15% who believe it is very important and 22% who say it is not at all important.
Men like the idea of Obama going to bat for Chicago slightly more than women do. Adults ages 18 to 29 are far more enthusiastic about the trip than their elders.
Almost inevitably, there's a partisan split on the question. Fifty percent (50%) of Democrats think the president's trip to Denmark is a good idea. Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans don't. Adults not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of Democrats think it's important for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Sixty-two percent (62%) of Republicans say it's not important. Again, undecideds are much more closely divided.
Seventy percent (70%) of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Olympics. For 31%, that view is very favorable. Just 16% regard the international games unfavorably, including six percent (6%) with a very unfavorable view.
So far, the president's planned trip on behalf of Chicago's Olympics bid hasn't caught the attention of many Americans. Forty-nine percent (49%) say they have followed news reports about the trip at least somewhat closely, with 20% following very closely. But the identical number (49%) are not following the story closely, with 20% who are not paying attention to it at all.
Mrs. Obama is already in Denmark with a group that includes television personality Oprah Winfrey to champion Chicago's bid, and the president is expected to join them there today to help woo Olympic Committee delegates. The IOC will vote on Friday. Chicago is competing with Rio de Janeiro. Madrid and Tokyo.
While the Obamas are from Chicago, some critics have complained about the cost and timing of the president's trip, although in recent years other world leaders have personally lobbied the IOC on behalf of cities in their countries.
Obama's job approval ratings have stabilized in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll .
In July of last year, 61% of adults said they planned to watch a large portion of the Summer Olympics on television the following month . Just over half of adults (53%) thought it was important for the United States to bring home the most medals.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) also said they would rather watch the Olympics than news about the ongoing presidential campaign.
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To view the original report, please use this link: Forget Denmark!