Gallup: Obama job rating sinks below 40% for first time

[ProSense]

Gallup: Obama job rating sinks below 40% for first time

By Michael A. Memoli

President Obama's summer woes have dragged his approval rating to an all-time low, sinking below 40% for the first time in Gallup's daily tracking poll.

New data posted Sunday shows that 39% of Americans approve of Obama's job performance, while 54% disapprove. Both are the worst numbers of his presidency.

Obama's approval rating has hovered in the 40% range for much of 2011, peaking at 53% in the weeks following the death of Osama bin Laden.

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The polling setback comes as the Republican race to unseat him has kicked into overdrive. The past week has been dominated by the activity in Iowa ahead of the Ames Straw Poll, and the entrance of a new contender in Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The candidates have routinely assailed Obama's leadership in appealing to conservative activists who dominate this stage of the nominating contest.

more

From Gallup:

The President's support among liberal Democrats is holding steady at 83 percent.

He has dropped 14 points among conservative Democrats and 8 points among liberal/moderate Republicans (is there such a thing?).

[begin_within]

1. 83% of liberal Democrats support him????

[LWolf]

8. 83% of self-identified liberals,

which also includes the neoliberals.

[JoePhilly]

21. They should let you pick who are the real liberals, right?

[iamthebandfanman]

34. sorry, they put me in charge. n/t

[LWolf]

54. No. If data is going to be manipulated using "liberal" as an identification,

then everyone, including me, should be using the same strict definition of "liberal."

Since that's obviously not the case, with "liberal" being used in widely different ways to describe widely different outlooks, data manipulated with that label is not valid.

It's disingenuous, to say the least, to pretend that it is.

[NorthCarolina]

28. Yep, they surely do........

you can believe it because you read it here....on DU.

[ruggerson]

2. Well I guess that effectively destroys the "liberals are bad" meme

that we've been seeing of late.

Liberals might be disgruntled, but they're not abandoning ship, for the time being, at least.

If these numbers are more or less accurate it means that Obama's attempts at bipartisanship are actually driving away moderate/conservative Democrats.

Perhaps they, like many of us, would like to see the President actively framing the rightwing as the political villains that they are and engaging them in fierce, partisan battle.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. The conservative Dems are being turned off by Obama's weakness and attempts at bipartisanship

Conservative Dems are typically less educated and poorer than their liberal counterparts. They are what the media refers to as "working class"

Conservative Dems really support programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. They are seeing Obama supporting cuts for these programs in the name of bipartisanship and they don't like it one bit. They are also seeing Obama support more free trade agreements which have obliterated their jobs.

Republicans will always despise him no matter what he does so who exactly is Obama trying to appeal to?

Obama needs to listen to the liberal wing of the Democratic party. Liberals are pretty much right about everything, especially when it comes to things like war, the economy and social programs.

[ProSense]

4. Conservative Democrats

and independents don't think the spending was cuts were deep enough.

"They are also seeing Obama support more free trade agreements which have obliterated their jobs."

In which world do conservative Democrats not support free trade?

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Conservative Dems don't want deep cuts to SS, Medicare and Medicaid

Why is that so hard for you to understand?

Conservative Dems don't support free trade at all. Like I said, many of these folks live in places like Ohio and they have seen what free trade did to them.

There's a difference between conservative Dem politicians and the conservative Dem voters in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania.

[ProSense]

11. No,

"Conservative Dems don't want deep cuts to SS, Medicare and Medicaid"

they don't want cuts to benefits, but to everything else.
Why is that so hard for you to understand?

Independents like compromise

[Cali_Democrat]

12. hmmm?

Nothing you just posted disputes what I said.

[woolldog]

9. Yup.

Nobody likes a wimp, esp not the independents or conservative dems.

[ClarkUSA]

19. Prove your claim.

[Sheepshank]

56. huh...what happened to you thread about being enlightened...

about the road blocks facing Obama and his policies?

Oh I get it, you were just trying to re-write the call for impeachment.

[ClarkUSA]

17. Prove it.

[Sheepshank]

55. You first sentence -- how about some stats on that assumption.

Your heading -- How about some more supporting data on that.

So far it all sounds all made up.

[boxman15]

6. First, I'd wait a couple more days to see if it stays that low,

or if it rebounds a little bit over the next few days. It always seems like Gallup finds lower approval ratings on weekends than they do during weekdays. Different people are home I guess, I don't know.

Anyway, President Obama really isn't in too bad shape considering everything. The approval rating is certainly low, and that's not a good thing, but his liberal base is still with him (though many are not completely satisfied), and most, if not all, polls show him beating his Republican challengers by a decent margin, and I'm confident that the more voters get to know these candidates, the less they'll like them (just look at how much Boehner's approval rating fell after the debt ceiling debacle). I'd expect his approval rating to go up then, especially if he really goes after the GOP on the campaign trail, which it looks like he might do.

We'll see what happens. I'm not too concerned right now, though.

[CakeGrrl]

10. Good points.

Taking all the polls in context and relative to each other, the reading is: "It's a crap situation, no one's happy about things, but most people know the R's are a bigger part of the problem, and the vast majority of Dems are sticking with the President."

[brentspeak]

7. Polls don't influence my thinking

Some poll claims that 60% of Americans disapprove of Obama? That piece of trivia doesn't make me disapprove of him.

Some poll claims that 83% of "liberal Democrats" approve of Obama? That piece of trivia doesn't make me approve of him.

[DCBob]

22. Why would you think this poll was meant to influence your thinking?

Its just another stupid poll.

[wisteria]

13. Ah, this is just a manipulated poll to build enthusiasm for the Republican race. n/t

[Fearless]

14. Liberal Democrats are clearly idiots then.

And I'm a proud member of the 17% who aren't stupid.

[Sheepshank]

57. lol 23% of Baggers are proud of that fact too.

Somthing about the noble fight, the David fighting Goliath.

[marlakay]

15. Believe it or not there is

My 30 yr old daughter who has been democrat since she could vote her and husband, they both changed to Independent and are thinking of voting R this time....

hard to believe huh? But not really if you knew them, they are all into making money, never involved in politics just would vote every 4 yrs, they are in the military so have always been constantly surrounded by republicans.

They voted dem for social reasons but the more money they get the more I have seen them change. He is a major now in AF and she is CPA. And they are convinced that the dems want to cut the military more that the republicans.

So people like I have always said vote R for two reasons either social religious reasons or money...

They vote in Texas even though they are in DC now. When you are military you can pick a state you lived in and stay there for taxes and voting. They picked Texas because the taxes were low. Odds are it wouldn't go for Obama anyway.

But these same people are the ones who heard about and talked me into Obama when I wanted Gore to run. Now they are disappointed with him and concerned for cuts in the military.

I think most people vote for what they think is best for them, for their finances, their belief systems, their values.

Most people don't vote for the good of the nation.

[Imajika]

16. Which is why the R's went along with the triggers in the debt ceiling bill...

If both sides don't reach an agreement, major (aka: somewhat noticeable) defense cuts will take place. Panetta has already said they are unacceptably large, and I'd bet anything Obama agrees. All 6 Republicans will claim by not agreeing to other spending reductions the Democrats are slashing Defense while we are in 3 wars. The Democrats will be forced to agree to entitlement cuts or fight to raise taxes. No matter how much the polls show the public wants to raise taxes on the rich (and they almost always do), somehow these issue always manages to turn into a giant loser for Democrats. Republicans just shout Tax & Spend, Tax & Spend, Tax & Spend, the media repeats it, the public gets confused, and the left loses the tax fight.

If the automatic cuts go forward (which is quite possible), then the Republicans will scream Democrats are gutting defense and hollowing out our armed forces while we are fighting wars. Republicans will immediately put bills forth in the House to raise defense spending in exchange for entitlement cuts, and if the Democrats fight it we become "weak on defense". People like much of my family and perhaps your daughter and her husband are very likely to fall for such arguments as you've pointed out in your post. The Republicans set a real trap for us, which is why Boehner was so pleased with himself after the debt deal.

[marlakay]

30. Totally agree

I try to explain that to my daughter but she won't listen. They have made up their minds and they aren't dummies these are kids with masters degrees. Like I said its more about money for them now. I knew when she married her husband who has always been wanting money that eventually it would turn them greedy. At first when younger he was great at saving and not letting her waste money but now its all about taxes. And she does taxes for her job.

[ClarkUSA]

18. Explains a lot. Liberal Democrats love Pres. Obama while DLC ConservaDems that loved Clinton don't.

Nonetheless, President Obama still has higher average ratings than either Clinton or Reagan at this time in their presidency.

[Shaundra]

25. Did you make that up?

Can you back that up with evidence? You said, "President Obama still has higher average ratings than either Clinton or Reagan at this time in their presidency."

Did you say it without checking any source?

[ClarkUSA]

32. No, it's a fact. Gallup's Editor-in-Chief said so himself recently in an interview.

Read more FACTS: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/gallup-pollster-obamas-approvals-soar-above-his-predecessors.php?ref=fpb

FYI: I never make things up.

[Shaundra]

33. You cited a 23-day old article to back up a claim you made today

What's up with that? Let me ask you straight up. What's Clinton's and Reagan's and Obama's average rating at this point in their respective presidencies?

[ClarkUSA]

37. If you're not satisfied, go email Gallup's Editor-In-Chief.

[Sheepshank]

58. You're pissing about a statement made less a month ago?

Wow...little newbie.

[Imajika]

35. The problem with that is...

...both Reagan and Clinton had rapidly improving economies going into the election for their 2nd term, Obama may not have that - in fact he probably won't.

If the President could at least say things were improving, he could go a long way to making this a "choice" election and be able to claim his economic plans are working. Obama may have somewhat higher approval numbers than Reagan and Clinton at this point in their terms, but if the economy does not start improving it is hard to see how his polling really begins to improve the way Reagan and Clinton's did.

It this economy does not turn around in at least a somewhat noticeable way, Obama is really going to face a difficult re-election effort in 2012. He needs to have an economic upswing so he has the wind at his sails, instead he is facing difficult headwinds.

[Shaundra]

36. Obama does not have a higher approval than Clinton at this point

Not in average, not in day-to-day numbers. No evidence has been presented to back up that claim.

[ClarkUSA]

38. Reread Reply #32 complete with Gallup Editor-In-Chief's Frank Newport's interview quotes via my link

Did you make that up? Can you back that up with evidence? You said, "Obama does not have a higher approval than Clinton at this point."

Did you say it without checking any source? What's up with that?

[ClarkUSA]

42. I agree with you on many of your points.

[Logical]

40. I wish I lived in your dream world. Much be easier than the reality!

[ClarkUSA]

41. Reality = my statement is backed up by the facts in this poll.

Whereas your blathering is not.

[Logical]

44. I have started looking for your reply's lately. Entertaining no doubt.

[Vanje]

51. Clinton?

I don't think think there a Clinton in this race.
Maybe you should get over your Clinton hang up. This time, its not about the Clintons.

[Beacool]

60. Obsessed much?

Even when an article has zero to do with the Clintons you strive to throw a random kick at them.

We should be lucky enough to have Bill as president right now. The 90s were good times in this country.

:eyes:

[Hart2008]

20. Cue Tom Petty: "Free Falling"...Obama's theme song! NT

[ClarkUSA]

24. Losing love from ConservaDems & Republicans while holding Liberal Dems = a steadfastly Liberal POTUS

BTW, both Reagan and DINO DLC Bill Clinton nosedived even more in their second year, despite having far less troubled economy.

[Hart2008]

29. Obama is a neoliberal not a liberal, as were Reagan and Clinton.

The day of the neoliberals is coming to its close with the collapse of neoliberal economics.

[ClarkUSA]

31. Wrong. He always rejected the DLC and is spurned by centrist-right voters, as this poll proves.

[Hart2008]

47. Buffalo Chips! Your poll proves no such thing. Neoliberals are Neoliberals

Whether they join then the DLC or stay in the closet, neoliberals are neoliberals.

[Vanje]

52. Neoliberals....

are Neocons

[Keylime]

23. Obama shouldn't just sit there... he needs to do something. NT

[Hart2008]

26. He will give us a motivational speech. It is all he knows how to do. NT

[ProSense]

27. Pssst!

There isn't going to be a primary.

[BeyondGeography]

43. Gary Hart

Now THERE'S a candidate.

[jefferson_dem]

45. Monkey Business!

[BeyondGeography]

46. Dude was a disaster

[Hart2008]

48. Mike "the duck" Dukakis was the disaster who gave us Bush I in an embarassing loss. NT

[Hart2008]

49. Duck Soup! It was the better Marx Bros. movie!

[jefferson_dem]

39. Lazy Black Man Alert!

:scared:

[Vanje]

53. Oh, For crying out loud!

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BackToThe60s]

50. DTP

About as useful as a sticky in the wind.