Politics | President Obama Obama Understands People Best: Poll More than half say he relates to average Americans By Neal Colgrass Posted Jan 30, 2012 6:06 PM CST Copied President Barack Obama shares a laugh as he is introduced by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., before speaking at the House Democratic Issues Conference, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in Cambridge, Md. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) No-Drama Obama may be lying low these days, but most Americans say he relates to their problems best. A new Pew Research/Washington Post poll of 1,006 adults gives President Obama good marks on the empathy scale, Politico reports: 55% say he relates to the needs of average people fairly or very well. Not bad, next to 39% for Mitt Romney and 36% for Newt Gingrich. Some 41% of those polled say Obama doesn't understand average problems well or at all. Asked the same about Gingrich, 51% agreed; 48% gave the same answer about Romney. Among independent voters, 53% call Obama empathetic, while only 38% and 37% say the same of Romney and Gingrich, respectively. Among Democrats, a striking 84% say the president relates to the concerns of average Americans. Among Republicans, 61% say Romney relates, and 60% say as much of Gingrich. See the entire poll here. Read These Next New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. A man has been deported for kicking an airport customs beagle. New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Report an error