Public Preference for a GOP Congress Marks a New Low in Obama’s Approval

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

DQ, did you read it? Our Fearless Leader is getting hammered pretty hard on many of the top issues of the day - the economy: "Notably, economic views are linked with preferences for control of Congress regardless of people’s partisan affiliation."

Heath care costs: "One reason is that the law seems to have opened an avenue for public ire about health care costs to be directed at the administration. Six in 10 blame the ACA for increasing costs nationally, and 47 percent think it’s caused their own health care expenses to rise. Regardless of whether or how much those costs would have risen otherwise, Obamacare is taking a heavy dose of the blame."

Ukraine (which is currently a proxy for foreign policy as it's on the news, my take): "Given continued tensions over Ukraine, just 34 percent of Americans approve of how he’s handling that situation, 8 points fewer than early last month."

Looks dark for the midterms overall: "General anti-incumbency results: Just 22 percent of Americans say they’re inclined to re-elect their representative in Congress, unchanged from last month as the fewest in ABC/Post polls dating back 25 years." Me again: That would include the Rep Revolution.

Speaking of that the whole thing reported as bad news for the left comes down to our favorite prankster Bill Clinton's comment, it's the economy, stupid

But it's not sweetness and light for the GOP. If you look at the 'Trust to Handle Issues' graphic on page 5 (can't copy/paste) the Dems come darn close to a clean sweep. It goes on:

"The Republicans have some vulnerability in other areas, as well. Americans say the Democratic Party comes closer than the GOP to their positions on climate change, by 18 points; whether or not to raise the minimum wage, by 16 points; gay marriage, by 14 points; and the issue of abortion, by 8 points. On one remaining issue, gun control, the Republicans have a slight, 5-point edge."

This appears to be a long term problem though, vs a short term.

A big paste:

"OBAMA/GROUPS – Divisions among groups remain especially stark in terms of Obama’s ratings; further, as noted, he’s lost ground in some of his core support groups. The president’s approval rating since early March has lost 14 points among liberals, 12 points among people with postgraduate degrees, 10 points among urban residents, 9 points among Democrats and 7 points among those with incomes less than $50,000. He’s lost 9 points among independents as well.
With 41 percent approval overall (his previous low was 42 percent last November and the same in October 2011), Obama’s at new lows among nonwhites (61-34 percent, approve-disapprove) and liberals (63-31 percent), and matches his lows among moderates (46-48 percent) and independents (33-59 percent). His rating among Democrats, 74-22 percent, is a single point from its low.
Other results also mark the extent of the difficulties facing Obama and his party alike. A form of statistical analysis called regression finds that, as noted above, views on the economy correlate both with congressional vote preference, and views on which party should control Congress, independently of partisan affiliation. That suggests that the Democrats are in serious need of a positive shift in economic views.
That may be hard to accomplish. While 50 percent of Democrats say the economy’s in good shape, that plummets not only among Republicans but independents as well, to 12 and 22 percent, respectively. And while 46 percent of Democrats see improvement in the economy, again just 22 percent of independents, and 15 percent of Republicans, agree.
Preferences on which party controls Congress may reflect a general inclination in favor of divided government – and don’t always predict outcomes, as in 2002, when more registered voters preferred Democratic control yet the GOP held its ground. It’s striking, nonetheless, that this poll finds Republican control favored not only in the 2012 red states, by 56-36 percent, but also by 51-41 percent in the blue states that backed Obama fewer than two years ago."

.-.-.-.

Long and short, unless the economy significantly improves soon it appears that the GOP is set for serious gains in the midterms if not a walkover.

But it's still a ways off, and, what do I know?

Pete

Does anybody but you and your ideological partner in foolishness really care about Obama's popularity anymore? You two should get a room.

Did anybody ever care, outside of for a few weeks prior to the first week of November 2012? Speaking for myself...uh, nope. IDGAS.

[Pio1980]

So it is in the interest of the party of "No!" to continue to sabotage the recovery. Effing brilliant.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by Pio1980

So it is in the interest of the party of "No!" to continue to sabotage the recovery. Effing brilliant.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

It reminds me of a quote from "Game of Thrones."

Baelish has utterly no limits on what he will do to achieve power: he would burn the entire realm down if it meant he could be king of the ashes.

http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/...Watch_is_Ended

[donquixote99]

As noted, Obama's popularity continues to matter because some voters will reward or punish his party, in the midterm, based on how they feel about him. So the incessant GOP character assassination has its effect.

[BlueStreak]

Heath care costs: "One reason is that the law seems to have opened an avenue for public ire about health care costs to be directed at the administration. Six in 10 blame the ACA for increasing costs nationally, and 47 percent think it’s caused their own health care expenses to rise. Regardless of whether or how much those costs would have risen otherwise, Obamacare is taking a heavy dose of the blame."

They "think" it has. Why is that?

I've checked what mine would cost. Nearly half what my premiums are now. The only difference being that my employer currently pays the lions share of my (bloated) premiums. If I should decide to go it on my own, it would cost me half as much under Obamacare than it would prior.

The key word in the above quote is "think".

Dave

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Heath care costs: "One reason is that the law seems to have opened an avenue for public ire about health care costs to be directed at the administration. Six in 10 blame the ACA for increasing costs nationally, and 47 percent think it’s caused their own health care expenses to rise. Regardless of whether or how much those costs would have risen otherwise, Obamacare is taking a heavy dose of the blame."

They "think" it has. Why is that?

I've checked what mine would cost. Nearly half what my premiums are now. The only difference being that my employer currently pays the lions share of my (bloated) premiums. If I should decide to go it on my own, it would cost me half as much under Obamacare than it would prior.

The key word in the above quote is "think".

Dave

And as Ms. Parker said 'You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think' any more than all these chickenhawks they interview on TV.

Thay claim Obama should hit with harder sanctions. We do one tenth of the business the EU does with Russia, without the EU going along we really cannot hit harder..

Health insurance costs going up? No yours, not mine, must be that man behind the tree.

Obama hes not fixed the economy. Funny when people were saying the same thing about Bush the GOP said that POTUS really can't affect the economy. As long as nothing can move through the house nowt will change.

If I find all this info without trying, just being observant the WTF is the matter with everyone?

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by merrylander

And as Ms. Parker said 'You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think' any more than all these chickenhawks they interview on TV.

Thay claim Obama should hit with harder sanctions. We do one tenth of the business the EU does with Russia, without the EU going along we really cannot hit harder..

Health insurance costs going up? No yours, not mine, must be that man behind the tree.

Obama hes not fixed the economy. Funny when people were saying the same thing about Bush the GOP said that POTUS really can't affect the economy. As long as nothing can move through the house nowt will change.

If I find all this info without trying, just being observant the WTF is the matter with everyone?

Yep. You got it.

Dave

[donquixote99]

True points like you just made are available to change perceptions. That is the opportunity I spoke of, if the Democrats communicate well.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

True points like you just made are available to change perceptions. That is the opportunity I spoke of, if the Democrats communicate well.

Precisely.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

"Ukraine (which is currently a proxy for foreign policy as it's on the news, my take): "Given continued tensions over Ukraine, just 34 percent of Americans approve of how he’s handling that situation, 8 points fewer than early last month."


I believe I can safely venture a guess that less than 34% of Americans have any idea where the Ukraine is or what's going on there. And, BTW; I don't approve of the way it's being handled.

I'm not voting for any Republicans in the midterms. I'm through with those a-holes.

Dave