Obama backers cite leadership qualities

PRINCETON, N.J., July 15 (UPI) -- Most Americans who support U.S. President Barack Obama cite his leadership abilities while those who oppose him dislike his policies, a poll indicates.

A Gallup Poll conducted last weekend indicated 54 percent of respondents who said they approved of Obama do so because of his leadership in attempting to solve the nation's problems while nearly two-thirds of those who disapprove of Obama's job performance mention policy areas where they disagree.

Obama's overall job approval was 58 percent while 36 percent disapproved of his performance, the poll said.

Gallup officials said praise for the job Obama is doing centers on his attentiveness to the country's problems and includes a dose of admiration for his personal characteristics and style. They noted these results are relatively soft in when compared with the mainly policy-related criticisms of Obama from his detractors, which are largely focused on government spending and power.

Some 1,018 adults were interviewed July 10-12 for the poll, which had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.