Point In Time Popularity: 10th Out of Last 12 [Archive] - Debate Policy

Kathianne

07-21-2009, 06:50 AM

Obama's not doing so well:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-07-20-obama-poll-economy_N.htm

Poll: Less faith in Obama's economic abilities
By Susan Page, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Qualms about President Obama's stewardship of the economy are growing, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, as Americans become more pessimistic about when they predict the recession will end.
At six months in office, Obama's 55% approval rating puts him 10th among the 12 post-World War II presidents at this point in their tenures. When he took office, he ranked seventh....

Kathianne

07-21-2009, 06:56 AM

LA Times too:

http://www.debatepolicy.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=375923

...Any time in modern American politics that you hear a member of one party praise a member of another party -- turncoat Arlen Specter aside -- with the utmost insincerity they can manage, we all know now that the next sentence will begin with a firm, contradictory: "But..."

Remember the heartfelt tribute of Sen. Barack Obama? "Sen. McCain is a true American hero and we salute him for a lifetime of service to his country."

So when Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele opened his Washington remarks today (full text and videos below) with "President Barack Obama is a good man who cares deeply about his country," anyone with any savvy knew what was coming next. And sure enough:

"But he is determined with an unprecedented single-mindedness to transform it into something none of us would recognize."

On the president's six-month anniversary, the new polling must be in. And it apparently shows a weakness involving the word "experiment." We know the president's personal popularity has slipped while remaining relatively high. We also know it will likely sink lower, especially if unemployment continues to soar past the 8.5% the Obamas promised as max.

However, Obama's approval on specific programs is fading faster, even as his hastily-arranged economic stimulus plan doesn't stimulate and concern over his spending plans grows. The Ticket analyzed the president's unfolding public relations strategy here. The more the healthcare plan is discussed, the more questions Americans seem to have about it and its costs. Hence, Obama's rush. Hence, the GOP's what's the hurry?...