ABC News - Harris Survey -L- for Release: Saturday AM, April 14Th, 1979 Vol

ABC News - Harris Survey -L- For Release: Saturday AM, April 14th, 1979 Vol. I NO. 45 ISSN 0163-4846

LACK OF EXPERIENCE, FOLLOW-THROUGH AND COMPETENCE SEEN AS HEART OF PRESIDENT CARTER'S TROUBLES WITH AMERICAN PUBLIC

By Louis Harris

With personal confidence in the President hovering at a low of 27 percent positive, the heart of Jimmy Carter's troubles with the American public now seems to be a perceived lack of experience, follow-through and competence in the way he is handling his job. Making this personal problem even worse for the President is the fact that these latest results from the ABC News - Harris Survey come after he was able to bring about a peace settlement between Egypt and Israel. Indeed, by 73-21 percent, a sizable majority of voters now feel that "in achieving the peace settlement between Egypt and Israel, he showed he is a very able negotiator in foreign affairs."

However, an even higher 81-16 percent majority of the same sample of 1,323 voters nationwide feels that "until he proves he can really be effective on inflation and energy, it's hard to tell just how good a President he is." At the moment, he is rated 81-16 percent negative on his handling of the economy and 78-17 percent negative on his handling of the energy situation. Thus, the President must overcome two enormous obstacles before Americans are willing to give him their confidence. But the lack of confidence in Mr. Carter's ability to do his job is evident in other findings: --By 87-10 percent, a majority feels that "in some of the mistakes he has L made, his 1ack.of experience is clear to see." This latest rating is up 8 points from the 79-17 percent rating of last October. It is also 24 points worse than the 63-25 percent rating of July 1977. Despite his having held office for more than two years, President Carter is still seen as sorely lacking in experience.

--BY 75-21 percent, a majority feels that "although he is well intentioned, at times you begin to wonder if he has the basic competence to do the job." This criticism of the President has risen 12 points since last October, when a 63-32 percent majority felt the same way. The current result is a full 1B.points worse than the rating in late 1977, when a 57-32 percent majority questioned his competence. This rising tide of doubts about Carter's basic competence is certainly the most serious criticism leveled at him.

--By 75-19 percent, a majority feels thatanhecomes up with too many new programs, but doesn't seem to know how to follow through very effectively." This criticism has risen 4 points since last October, when a 71-23 percent majority shared this view, and is up 16 points since late 1977, when a 59-27 percent majority also felt that way.

On-two other dimensions, President Carter scores well:

--By 80-17 percent, people feel that Jimmy Carter is "a man of high integrity." Faith in the President has not changed much since he first took office in early 1977. It remains the bedrock of Carter strength with American voters. --By 63-31 percent, a majority agrees with the claim that "he feels deeply about less privileged people and is genuinely trying to help them as President." But this positive attribute has dropped 8 points from the 71-23 percent rating last October. There is widespread feeling in the country that the elderly, those on fixed incomes and the poor have suffered from the double-digit interest rate that has been employed as a tool to bring down the rate of inflation and restore. the value of the dollar abroad. Nonetheless, there is still a solid majority of Americans who feel that Mr. Carter really cares about the less fortunate in society. On yet another attribute, there has been a turn for the worse for the President in this latest ABC News - Harris Survey. By 53-42 percent, a majority now rejects the claim that Carter "has a style that is rapidly rebuilding confidence in the White House and government." Last October, a narrow 48-44 percent plurality believed he could rebuild confidence. Back in his first year in office, a 54-28 percent majority thought the President was on his way toward bringing back faith in the national leadership. These doubts about President Carter, when coupled with public skepticism about his chances of making real progress on either inflation or the energy situation, spell real trouble for 1980. Fundamentally, they mean that, for this President at least, incumbency in office is not necessarily the advantage that so many have always assumed it is. They also mean that his opponents within and outside his party will be striking pay dirt by directly attacking the Carter performance in the White House.

TABLES

Between Uarch 22nd and 27th, the ABC News - Harris Survey asked a cross section of 1,323 voters nationwide by telephone: .Now let me read.you some statements that have been made about President Carter. For each, tell me if you tend to agree or disagree." CARTER PROFILE Aqree Disagree Not sure % % % POSITIVE He's a man of high integrity March 1979 Oct. 1978 June 1978 Nov. 1977 Sept 1977 July 1977 He has a style that is rapidly rebuilding confidence in the White House and government March 1979 Oct. 1978 June 1978 Nov. 1977 Sept 1977 July 1977 He feels deeply about less privileged people and is genuinely trying to help them as President March 1979 Oct. 1978 June 1978 Nov. 1977 Sept 1977 July 1977 In achieving the peace settlement between Egypt and Israel, he showed he is a very able negotiator in foreign affairs March 1979

TABLE CONTINUED CARTER PROFILE CONT'D. Agree Disagree Not sure % % %

NEGATIVE

In some~ of the mistakes he has made, his lack of experience is clear to see March 1979 Oct. 1978 June 1978 Nov. 1977 Sept 1977 July 1977 Although he is well intentioned, at times you begin to wonder if he has the basic competence to do the job March 1979 Oct. 1978 June 1978 Nov. 1977 He comes up with too many new programs, but doesn't seem to know how to follow through very effectively March 1979 Oct. 1978 June 1978 Nov. 1977 Until he proves he can really be effective on inflation and energy, it's hard to tell just how good a President he is March 1979

X = not asked