Tuesday's New Day featured its latest CNN/ORC poll results showing that President Obama's overall approval rating has recently inched up a few points to 50 percent, his highest number in two years, with co-anchor Chris Cuomo touting the results as "the good word" as he introduced correspondent Jim Acosta.
For his part, after recounting the finding that President Obama's approval for his handling of race relations had increased to 55 percent, the CNN correspondent oddly cited as good news what should have been viewed as a negative finding that only 20 percent of Americans believe race relations have improved since Obama became President, with 43 percent saying relations have gotten worse.
Acosta repeated the findings -- including his confusing take on the 20 percent number -- during each of the three one-hour segments of the New Day show. At about 6:06 a.m., after recalling Obama's overall approval rating, the CNN correspondent put his odd positive spin on the 20 percent number on the basis that it was five points higher than in February, even though it could be clearly seen on screen that the survey also found that the number of people who believe relations have worsened has increased from 39 percent to 43 percent. Acosta:
One reason why that is, the President is getting better marks for how he's handling race relations. That is up five points. You see it there at 55 percent. Five points higher than it was last month. And people are also feeling better about how the President is handling race relations overall: 20 percent say they are better under President Obama, up five points from earlier this year.
Shortly into the 7:00 a.m. hour, Acosta repeated his claim about the 20 percent number:
And one reason why is how he is handling race relations in this country. A big issue in this country since the church massacre down in Charleston and the President's speech there last Friday. The President is now at 55 percent in that category -- up five points from last month when it was at 50 percent in May. People are also feeling better in general about race relations in America under the President -- 20 percent say they are better. That's up five points from February.
When Cuomo introduced the segment shortly into the 8:00 a.m. hour, he beamed over the "good word" of President Obama's poll numbers:
In other big news this morning, breaking overnight, President Obama proposing changes to overtime pay He says this is going to help five million American workers. It comes as a new CNN/ORC poll conducted after a series of wins for the administration finds the obvious: The President's approval rating is up. In fact, it's at a two-year high. So let's get to CNN senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta live in Washington. What is the good word?
After recounting the trend that the President's approval rating has improved slightly, Acosta for the third time cited as good news the finding that 20 percent believe race relations have improved.
Obviously, the public is warming up to the job he is doing. One reason is how he is handling race relations in America. That was a big issue in this country since the Charleston church massacre and the President's speech down there last Friday. The President is now at 55 percent in that category, up five points from last month when it was 50 percent in May. People are also generally feeling better about race relations in America under this President: 20 percent say they are better. That's up five points from February.
Below are transcripts or relevant portions of the Tuesday, June 30, New Day on CNN:
6:06 a.m.
MICHAELA PEREIRA: Breaking overnight, President Obama working to make millions of Americans eligible for overtime pay. He wants to more than double the threshold for salaried workers to make that extra cash.This as a new CNN/ORC poll conducted after several big wins for the White House shows that the President's approval is at its highest point in two years. Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta live at the White House with details. Good morning to you, Jim.
JIM ACOSTA: Good morning, Michaela. A lot of numbers to run through. I'll get right to it. The White House is setting new overtime rules to raise the pay of nearly five million Americans. President Obama announced the move on the Huffington Post last night, saying -- we'll put this up on screen: "In this country, a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay," and, "That's at the heart of what it means to be middle class in America."
Now, here's what it means for you. Under the old overtime rules, that extra pay of time and a half stopped at $23,660 a year. Now, that threshold will be bumped up to people making up to $50,440 a year.
This announcement comes, as you mentioned, Michaela, as the President is receiving higher marks for the way he's handling his job. According to our new CNN/ORC poll numbers, the President's approval numbers are on the rise: 50 percent approve; 47 percent disapprove. That's important because that's his highest number in two years. And just over the last year, you can see the difference. He has not been over 50 percent over the course of the last several months.
One reason why that is, the President is getting better marks for how he's handling race relations. That is up five points. You see it there at 55 percent. Five points higher than it was last month. And people are also feeling better about how the President is handling race relations overall: 20 percent say they are better under President Obama, up five points from earlier this year.
And another big swing for the President in our new CNN/ORC poll is his handling of the economy. We've been talking about these overtime rules this morning. Well, on the economy, people like what he's doing right now -- up six points over the last month. That is basically the reason why his approval numbers are now up above that magic number of 50 percent. MIchaela and Chris, that is a number the White House is going to like to see this morning. They're going to be waking up to some better poll numbers. The last time we talked about these CNN/ORC numbers, when they were not heading in the right direction, Chris. And as for these overtime payrolls, you heard the President say he wants to raise the minimum wage. This is another way to get around raising the pay for millions of Americans, and the White House likes the sound of that as well.
CHRIS CUOMO: This will be one of those polls they don't dismiss out of hand and say is a distraction.
ACOSTA: No, that's right.
CUOMO: Jim, thank you very much. Appreciate it.
(...)
7:00 a.m. hour
JIM ACOSTA: And one reason why is how he is handling race relations in this country. A big issue in this country since the church massacre down in Charleston and the President's speech there last Friday. The President is now at 55 percent in that category -- up five points from last month when it was at 50 percent in May. People are also feeling better in general about race relations in America under the President -- 20 percent say they are better. That's up five points from February.And another big reason for this upward swing for the President is his handling of the economy -- up six points from last month. The President had a big week last week. That's what everybody has been talking about when it comes to talking about President Obama. And that is clearly showing up in his approval numbers this morning.
(...)
7:30 a.m.
JOHN KING: If you look at, you know, his numbers overall on race relations, are a little better from a couple of months ago, But if you look back in time, they're actually down. They're down among blacks, they're down among African-Americans if you look at the numbers here. The overall number is 55 percent. You say that's pretty good. But if you look at the numbers, you know, 84 percent of African-Americans approve his handling. That's down from 94 percent in 2010. You know, Trayvon Martin, Ferguson, Charleston, bad news on race relations.(...)
8:00 a.m. hour
CHRIS CUOMO: In other big news this morning, breaking overnight, President Obama proposing changes to overtime pay He says this is going to help five million American workers. It comes as a new CNN/ORC poll conducted after a series of wins for the administration finds the obvious: The President's approval rating is up. In fact, it's at a two-year high. So let's get to CNN senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta live in Washington. What is the good word?(...)
JIM ACOSTA: Obviously, the public is warming up to the job he is doing. One reason is how he is handling race relations in America. That was a big issue in this country since the Charleston church massacre and the President's speech down there last Friday. The President is now at 55 percent in that category, up five points from last month when it was 50 percent in May. People are also generally feeling better about race relations in America under this President: 20 percent say they are better. That's up five points from February.
