Past Elections

2008 Election 2004 Election

Obama Polls Poorly on Domestic Issues

2/9/2010, by Proloy Bhatta

HIGHLIGHTS

Handling of Health Care: Approve 36%, Disapprove 60%.
Handling of the Budget: Approve 32%, Disapprove 64%.
Handling of the Economy: Approve 36%, Disapprove 61%.

Here is the approval rating of Obama on the issues according to Gallup.

Issue	Current	Prior
Afghanistan	48	35
Iraq	47	56
Foreign Affairs	51	47
Economy	36	40
Health Care	36	37
Budget Deficit	32	38

Obama consistently polls well on foreign issues but poorly on domestic issues.

In fact, his slide on the domestic front has continued since he took office as demonstrated by the table below.

Issue	Feb 09	Mar 09	May 09	Jul 09	Aug 09	Sep 09	Nov 09	Jan 10	Feb 10
Health Care	X	X	X	44	43	43	40	37	36
Economy	59	56	55	47	48	46	44	40	36
Budget Deficit	X	49	46	41	X	38	X	X	32

According to a CNN poll conducted in early January 2010, 57% of adults nationwide believed the Xmas day bomber should be tried in military court rather than criminal court. And the Republicans have been attempting to derail Obama's success on foreign issues by questioning his decision to read the bomber his rights and try him in civilian court. But it has yet to affect him in the polls.

But Republicans have taken a slim lead in the generic 2010 generic race.

Pollster	Date	Republican	Democrat
AVERAGE		40.3%	39.0%
Research 2000	2/1-4/10	37	38
FOX ORC	2/2-3/10	41	36
NBC News	1/23-25/10	42	44
National Public Radio	1/20-23/10	44	39
USA Today Gallup	1/20/10	36	40
McLaughlin Associates	1/19-20/10	42	37

As NY-23 showed, Republicans are more prone to defections to a third party than the Democrats are. But as Scott Brown's victory showed, Republicans have a better chance at appealing to the middle in the current political climate even in staunch liberal states.

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