Obama Daily Tracking Poll Again

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Obama Approval Slips Three Points in Past Week

PRINCETON, NJ -- Amidst President Obama's push in July to revamp the nation's healthcare system, Gallup finds his average job approval rating registering 56% for the seven-day period ending Sunday, down from 59% the previous week. This three percentage point drop is the largest week-to-week decline seen in Obama's job approval thus far in his presidency, and punctuates a gradual descent from his 66% rating in early May.

The current week is starting off no better for Obama than the previous one. His job approval score in Gallup Poll Daily tracking, conducted July 25-27, is 54%; this is his lowest individual reading to date. Thirty-seven percent of Americans currently disapprove of the job he is doing and 9% have no opinion.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121934/Obama-Ap...-Past-Week.aspx

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-D...b-Approval.aspx

Edited July 29, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Poll: Obama loses ground on health care

WASHINGTON - Despite his public-relations blitz over the past two weeks to promote his plans to reform the nation's health-care system -- including holding two town halls on Wednesday -- President has lost ground on this issue with the American public, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Pluralities now say that the president’s health care plan is a bad idea, and that it will result in the quality of their care getting worse. What’s more, just four in 10 approve of his handling on the issue.

The poll also finds that Obama's overall job-approval rating has dropped to 53 percent. And it shows a public that has grown increasingly concerned about the federal government's spending as the administration defends its $787 billion economic stimulus and supports a $1 trillion-plus health-care bill.

“This is a president who needs a vacation,” says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. “His job rating is … certainly an acceptable mark. But if you look at it over time, it has [gone] south without a doubt.”

The good news for Obama, however, is that he remains the most popular politician in country, and Democrats continue to lead Republicans in the handling of several key issues, although the GOP has gained ground from a year ago.

But the poll, McInturff says, makes it clear that Obama -- who had been gliding above the partisan fray -- has come back down to earth. Conservatives and Republicans have moved away from him, while his numbers in the South and Midwest have declined.

“The question I asked back in February was: When does political gravity take hold?” he said. “The answer is in this survey. It is happening right now.”

The health insurance divide

That’s especially true on the issue of health care reform. As Congress works on its legislation and as Obama campaigns to get an overhaul enacted, 42 percent now say that the president’s plan is a bad idea, which is a 10-point increase since last month. Thirty-six percent say it’s a good idea.

In addition, 39 percent -- a plurality -- believe that Obama’s plan would result in the quality of their health care getting worse. That’s 15-point jump since April.

And just 41 percent approve of the president’s job on health care, which is nearly identical to Bill Clinton’s scores from 1994, when he failed to get Congress to pass health care reform.

But the poll -- which was taken of 1,011 adults from July 17-20, and which has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points -- also reveals a clear split between those who have private health insurance and those who don’t.

Americans who have private health insurance disapprove of Obama’s job on health care by a 51-38 percent margin. Those who lack insurance, however, approve of his job, 52-29 percent.

Also, when read the specifics of his goals for health care -- like requiring insurers to cover those with pre-existing conditions, providing low-income families with subsidies to help them afford insurance, and raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for the subsidies -- 56 percent say they support Obama’s plan. Only 38 percent oppose.

Hart, the Democratic pollster, thinks the Obama White House might see that finding as a silver lining in this survey. According to him, it means, “If I can get my message out, I am going to be there.”

Down on the stimulus, deficit

The public also has concerns with the progress of the $787 billion economic stimulus that Obama signed into law in February. In the poll, 43 percent believe the legislation was a bad idea, up 16 points since January. Just 34 percent say the stimulus was a good idea.

Indeed, the poll finds that the public’s top concern about Obama’s young presidency is that he has spent too much money, increasing the size of the deficit.

And now, according to the poll, Republicans find themselves with a six-point advantage over Democrats on the question of which party would do a better job of reducing the deficit. It’s the first time Republicans have led Democrats on this question since 1997.

Republicans also now have advantages on controlling government spending and taxes -- which McInturff says could make Obama’s job to sell a health care bill (and the tax increases that would pay for it) more difficult.

Still, the Democratic Party maintains its advantages over the GOP on health care, energy, getting the country out of recession and the economy, although those advantages are smaller than they were a year ago.

Overall, the Democratic Party’s favorability/unfavorability rating is 42-37 percent, while the Republican Party’s is 28-41 percent.

Obama: policies vs. popularity

The NBC/Journal survey has Obama’s overall approval rating at 53 percent, which is down three points from last month (and which also equals the percentage he won in last November’s presidential contest).

His job approval in handling the economy is lower, at 49 percent.

Furthermore, 46 percent say they are “extremely confident” or “quite confident” that he has the right set of goals and policies, versus a combined 53 percent who say they are “only somewhat confident” or “not confident at all.”

But the president remains personally popular: 55 percent view him favorably, compared with 34 percent who view him unfavorably.

Also in the poll, more than 70 percent give Obama good marks for being easygoing and likeable, more than 60 percent say he has strong leadership qualities and 55 percent believe he’s improving America’s image around the world.

And despite the decline in his numbers, Obama is the most popular politician measured in the poll. Vice President Biden’s favorable/unfavorable score is 38-36 percent; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s is 25-44; former Republican Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s is 28-20; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s is 53-31; and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s is 32-43.

Palin and 2012

Palin stepped down from office on Sunday, and could be eyeing a presidential bid in 2012. But according to the poll, a whopping 67 percent of Americans — and 43 percent of Republicans — say they would not like to see her president someday.

By comparison, 50 percent of the public — and 33 percent of Republicans — say they don’t want to see Mitt Romney, another possible 2012 contender, become president.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32206998/ns/po...cs-white_house/

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

would you like to impeach obama?

there's an ap for that!

[luckytxn 2,265]

The higher they are the farther they fall. Tsk tsk.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Call me when something surprising shows up in this poll. Thus far, he's doing as well as your hero.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

No, they didn't. Only real sore losers do that kind of thing.

[dalegg 143]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

I don't think they had as of yet accepted the legitimacy of his Presidency this early.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

I don't think they had as of yet accepted the legitimacy of his Presidency this early.

Well, it was handed to him by his brother and some fancy lawyering. So there was at least some actual reason to question the legitimacy of his being in office. Unlike the nonsense the sour grapes on the right are chewing on - you know, the lunatics known as the birthers.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

Gallup uses a three day weighted average for it's daily polls. You might be able to get a frequency from this Gallup chart:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113641/Despite-...e-Midrange.aspx

[nowhereman 1]

I just read an article that the Blue Dogs & some Republicans are backing a modified version of Obama's Health Care proposal, which if passed may boost his numbers a bit. I also recall the Bush administration (on many occasions) saying essentially that poll numbers are nothing more than a popularity contest & yet there seems to be a lot of scrutiny about Obama's numbers. Like others said a lot of sore losers out there.

Edited July 30, 2009 by nowhereman

[Brian&Naty 0]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

I don't think they had as of yet accepted the legitimacy of his Presidency this early.

Well, it was handed to him by his brother and some fancy lawyering. So there was at least some actual reason to question the legitimacy of his being in office. Unlike the nonsense the sour grapes on the right are chewing on - you know, the lunatics known as the birthers.

Didn't like Dubba all that much, but Al Gore? Inventor of the Internnets? Claims that the "AIR THAT I BREATH" is making me exhale Co2 which in turn makes me a polluter? I'll take Dubba.

Obama is drunk on his own image and power. He will devour himself along with PILLosi before he realizes his record sales have fallen off. Oh, and the birthers are lunitics , but the loonies on the right are not spending us into oblivion like the loonies on the left.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

I don't think they had as of yet accepted the legitimacy of his Presidency this early.

Well, it was handed to him by his brother and some fancy lawyering. So there was at least some actual reason to question the legitimacy of his being in office. Unlike the nonsense the sour grapes on the right are chewing on - you know, the lunatics known as the birthers.

Didn't like Dubba all that much, but Al Gore? Inventor of the Internnets? Claims that the "AIR THAT I BREATH" is making me exhale Co2 which in turn makes me a polluter? I'll take Dubba.

Obama is drunk on his own image and power. He will devour himself along with PILLosi before he realizes his record sales have fallen off. Oh, and the birthers are lunitics , but the loonies on the right are not spending us into oblivion like the loonies on the left.

Really? Or do you just opt not to see the fiscal irresponsibility undertaken by the the folks on your side of the aisle. Funny as it may seem, the GOP has chosen to attack a 1tn health care overhaul but applauded the Bush tax cuts that came with a price tag that was almost twice as high - 1.8tn. And that's just the figure that applies to the measure if it is allowed to expire as scheduled. If it was made permanent, as many of the right loonies demanded, the price tag would have been at over 4tn over the next decade. Now, chew on that and then come back and talk to me about fiscal responsibility. Okay?

[GaryC 7]

Did the Dems start tracking Dubya's numbers so closely (by the week) this early in his first term? I seriously don't remember.

I don't think they had as of yet accepted the legitimacy of his Presidency this early.

Well, it was handed to him by his brother and some fancy lawyering. So there was at least some actual reason to question the legitimacy of his being in office. Unlike the nonsense the sour grapes on the right are chewing on - you know, the lunatics known as the birthers.

Didn't like Dubba all that much, but Al Gore? Inventor of the Internnets? Claims that the "AIR THAT I BREATH" is making me exhale Co2 which in turn makes me a polluter? I'll take Dubba.

Obama is drunk on his own image and power. He will devour himself along with PILLosi before he realizes his record sales have fallen off. Oh, and the birthers are lunitics , but the loonies on the right are not spending us into oblivion like the loonies on the left.

Really? Or do you just opt not to see the fiscal irresponsibility undertaken by the the folks on your side of the aisle. Funny as it may seem, the GOP has chosen to attack a 1tn health care overhaul but applauded the Bush tax cuts that came with a price tag that was almost twice as high - 1.8tn. And that's just the figure that applies to the measure if it is allowed to expire as scheduled. If it was made permanent, as many of the right loonies demanded, the price tag would have been at over 4tn over the next decade. Now, chew on that and then come back and talk to me about fiscal responsibility. Okay?

A tax cut is money the people get to keep. Running up deficits with borrowed money is a whole other ball game. I take the tax cuts any day. Besides, this health care bill is nothing but a boondoggle any way. And the "stimulus" bill was nothing more than a spending spree on the national credit card. It is hard to call either one responsible. Chew on that one.

[William33 110]

Exemplifying the ridiculous in Washington, here is the latest. I still wonder how they find the time to do the Government's work....

July 29, 2009

Beer choice at Obama meeting touches off new debate

Posted: 11:11 PM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

What beer should be served at the Obama-Gates-Crowley get together?

(CNN) — The upcoming White House meeting with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and the Cambridge police officer who arrested him earlier this month appears to have touched off a fresh debate all on its own: what kind of beer should be served?

Earlier this week the White House indicated each man would drink the beer of their choice — Bud Light for President Obama, Blue Moon for the police officer, and perhaps Red Stripe or Beck's for Gates.

But one Massachusetts congressman thinks another beer entirely should be served: Boston's own Sam Adams.

In a letter to Obama dated Wednesday, Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal strongly urges the president not to drink Budweiser, now owned by a Belgian company. Nor should the White House consider serving Miller or Coors, Neal writes, both owned by a United Kingdom conglomerate.

Instead, the White House should serve the three men — all with ties to Massachusetts — the local favorite, not only because of its popularity in the region but also because it remains the largest American-owned and brewed beer, Neal says.

But Sam Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch told NPR if it was up to him he would make a special beer just for the event.

"I'd make a blend of ingredients from all over the world. Which is certainly what's represented there with the three participants," he said. "I would blend those ingredients together artfully and harmoniously, because that's really what we all hope for."

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports other Massachusetts-based beer companies are also hoping to get their product a space at the high-profile meeting.

Dan Kenary, president of Harpoon Brewery, told the paper they are working every "back-door channel" the company has.

"We'd love to be the beer at this event," Kenary said.

Read Rep. Neal's letter (PDF) here.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/...off-new-debate/