He has stayed above 50% approval, a level I think any president would be happy with in our current blue/red divided country, but then I read the following by Peter Wehner, who states
My former White House colleague Nicholas Thompson, now vice president at the Tarrance Group, sent out an e-mail analyzing the new Gallup poll that shows President Obama with a 51 percent approval rating — the lowest of his administration. More interestingly, Obama’s approval is down 14 points from his initial rating — tying President Clinton for the biggest drop since the Eisenhower era.Clinton was famous for polling about everything - even where he should vacation - so that he could strengthen his chances at a second term and then improve the image of his legacy (which he destroyed in the Lewinsky scandal).
For those interested, here’s how different presidents match up when comparing their initial approval rating with their average approval rating in the August of their first term: Eisenhower +6 (from 68 to 74 percent), Kennedy +4 (from 72 to 76 percent), Nixon +3 (from 59 to 62 percent), Carter -3 (from 66 to 63 percent), Reagan +9 (from 51 to 60 percent), George H. W. Bush +18 (from 51 to 69 percent), Clinton -14 (from 58 to 44 percent), George W. Bush -1 (from 57 to 56 percent), and Obama -14 (from 68 to 54 percent).
Now, a poor first year doesn’t necessarily translate into defeat in a reelection campaign (witness Bill Clinton) — just as a good first year doesn’t necessarily ensure reelection (witness Bush 41). Still, you would rather start well instead of poorly. Clinton — though he won reelection — created the conditions that allowed the GOP to take over the House of Representatives in 1994, for the first time in more than half a century. And whatever future awaits President Obama, he cannot recapture the past six months, when there was an enormous amount of good will for him. He had a chance to reshape the political landscape strongly in the favor of Democrats; instead, he has resuscitated the Republican Party far beyond what most people thought possible.
None of us can know what will happen. But all of us know what has happened: Barack Obama has lost altitude at an alarming rate, as quickly as any president in the modern era, and his signature domestic issue is becoming politically toxic. That cannot be good news for him, his party, or his liberal cause.
So that brings up the question, "Will Obama change his tone or direction based on the polls?"
I think it is unlikely, being the ideologue that he is.
4 comments:
Interesting info Alan. I doubt that he will change his direction based only on the polls. I would guess that most former President's didn't do that either.
After Hillarycare failed. Bill Clinton's polls fell significantly, but he survived by tacking to the right, which is one reason we finally got welfare reform that worked. So Pres. Clinton is one president that did change based solely on his polling numbers.
I have been watching and find it interesting how the media relays these numbers. While FOX news states that he has a 42% disapproval rating with 9% unsure, CNN states that he has a 51% approval rating and leaves it at that. Half full or half empty scenario. Usually I like the half full view on life but this time I can see the leak in the bottom of the glass and think optimism is a loosing battle. Again, I have not posted anything as not to be labled an Obama basher. Glad you brought it up though.
I was listening to KSL the other day and Doug Wright interviewed some pollster from ABC News who stated that although Obama's numbers had fallen and that it ought to be a concern to Obama, Obama might take solace in similar polls that indicate that the Republican base is stronger, but that Republicans are at dismal lows with independents and Democrats.
I don't know how accurate the ABC dude is.
The old notion that you plug your nose and vote for someone because the other guy is worse is indeed what may happen.
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