Rasmussen: Strong Disapproval Now Eclipses Barack's Total Approval, Strong and Weak

The "intensity index" is at -21, the worst yet, as Obama's strong disapproval hits 46% and his strong approval is 25. Total approval 44%, total disapprove 56%.

In polling jargon, this is known as a "B+" rating:

For the second straight day, the update shows the highest level of Strong Disapproval yet recorded for this President. That negative rating had never topped 42% before yesterday. However, it has risen dramatically since the Senate found 60 votes to move forward with the proposed health care reform legislation. Most voters (55%) oppose the health care legislation and senior citizens are even more likely than younger voters to dislike the plan.

One bright spot in the numbers for the President is that 51% of voters still say former President George W. Bush is more to blame for the nation’s economic woes. Just 41% point the finger of blame at the current President.

That's not really so bright. The number isn't high, and it will get lower, and as it does, Obama's numbers sink further.

I should say for a long time I've been sort of blowing off the intensity index, figuring it was mostly Rasmussen's attempt at branding, at providing its own stat. A pollster tells me no, this is a very common metric among pollsters, and Rasmussen's innovation here is pushing that number out to the public, rather just among clients commissioning the poll.

It doesn't matter, of course. Now that Obama has found 60 votes for a bill no one wants, his approval rating will skyrocket up to 60%, or something.

posted by Ace at 11:28 AM

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