* Only 28% view the GOP favorably, the lowest since at least 2005.
* A huge majority wants major changes to the health care system, and a plurality says Obama is reforming health care at “the right pace.” The public wants change now, meaning voters will probably extract a major price if it doesn’t get done.
* Voters blame Republicans, and not Obama, for obstructionism: Fifty nine percent say Obama is working with the GOP on health care reform, versus only 33% who say Republicans are working with the president.
* Fifty five percent says Obama has the right ideas for health care reform, versus only 26% — barely more than one-fourth — who say the GOP does.
Yes, health reform is taking its toll on Obama. But it’s taking its toll on everyone, and there’s no evidence that it’s causing much more harm to Obama and the Democrats than it is to the Republicans. Everybody loses while the public watches Congress struggle to get something done.
Let’s also remember that in American politics, we don’t vote on how much we like each candidate — we’re faced with a stark choice of one or the other. There’s evidence that the Republicans have slid even further than the Democrats so far this year. In a way, that means the Democrats are actually gaining, at least as compared to the Republicans.
Just take a look at the numbers from the internals:
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
Approve Disapprove DK/NA 2/2-4/09 62 15 23 2/18-22/09 63 22 15 3/12-16/09 62 24 14 3/20-22/09 64 20 16 4/1-5/09 66 24 10 4/22-26/09 68 23 9 5/6-12/09 63 26 11 6/12-16/09 63 26 11 7/9-12/09 57 32 11 7/24-28/09 58 30 13
10. In general, is your opinion of the Democrats in Congress favorable or not favorable?
Fav Not Fav DK/NA 2/2-4/09 48 43 9 3/12-16/09 50 40 10 7/24-28/09 47 42 11
11. In general, is your opinion of the Republicans in Congress favorable or not favorable?
Fav Not fav DK/NA 2/2-4/09 32 60 8 3/12-16/09 29 61 10 7/24-28/09 28 61 11
16. Is your opinion of Barack Obama favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven’t you heard enough about Barack Obama yet to have an opinion?
Fav Not fav Other* 1/11-15/09 60 9 31 4/22-26/09 54 18 28 7/24-28/09 50 23 28 *Other is combined undecided/haven’t heard enough/no answer — I combined, not NYT.
Obama’s numbers have fallen further than the GOP or Democrats in Congress. In fairness, though, he had much farther to fall, and respondents still approve of him by a 2-to-1 margin. Democrats have actually fared better than Republicans in terms of favorability ratings. It seems the GOP needs to find a better strategy than obstruction.
Blue Dog Democrats are driving this health reform debate. For Democrats to get to the most powerful position that a party has been in in a generation, and then claim that the minority party is the obstruction makes no sense to me.
Had your Blue Dogs agreed with the public option, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
Blue Dogs! Ha. There is no such thing. A blue dog is a regular democrat from a conservative district who had to run as a conservative to win. If the “blue dogs” are worried all the dems ought to worry because the same tide that swept them in to office could sweep them right out - then pfft goes the majority.