NBCNews/WSJ Poll: Obama Approval Falls to New Low

NBCNews headlines that the GOP "may" reap the benefits of Obama's poor standing.

But that seems obvious -- even if it's remarkable that NBC would confess the obvious -- so I'm linking the neutral WSJ instead.

President Barack Obama is struggling to overcome widespread pessimism about the economy and deep frustration with Washington, notching the lowest job-approval ratings of his presidency in a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

...

Mr. Obama's job approval ticked down to 41% in March from 43% in January, marking a new low. Some 54% disapproved of the job he is doing, matching a previous high from December, when the botched rollout of his signature health law played prominently in the news. The latest survey also showed the lowest-ever approval in Journal/NBC polling for Mr. Obama's handling of foreign policy.

The article notes that Obama's decline in approval is partly due to Democrats' disappointment in him. A new high of 20% of Democrats disapprove. Even his largest power source within the "Coalition of the Ascendant" -- blacks, Hispanics, and women -- support him less.

One factor in his favor: Obama still commands a large enough reservoir of support among white women, the WSJ opines, to hold him above Bushian levels of unpopularity, and perhaps blunt any GOP incursions into Democrat-held territory.

Right track/wrong track is at 26% right track, 65% wrong track.

The WSJ goes on to note five takeaways from the poll.

They say that the impact of Obamacare is "uncertain."

Uncertain? Yes, because Democrats still manage to keep parity with their "fix Obamacare" message:

Thirty-five percent said Obamacare is a good idea, while 49% said it’s a bad one. For Republicans trying to parlay opposition to the law into victory in 2014, the outlook is muddled. Thirty-seven percent of Republicans and 55% of Democrats said their views of the health care law will not necessarily reflect their vote for Congress. Forty-eight percent would support a Democrat who wants to fix the law, compared with 47% who would vote for a Republican who favors repeal.

One incredible thing: Point Five is that the public supports both Spending More Money and Cutting Spending.

Sixty-seven percent said they are more likely to vote for a congressional candidate who will bring home federal dollars and projects; the same share of respondents support cutting federal spending.

Incredible.

There is America's political dysfunction in a single number. 67% want more federal pork, and 67% also want the federal government to cut spending.

posted by Ace at 02:48 PM

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