Obama loses 20 points in approval/disapproval gap in new WaPo/ABC poll

Hotair ^ | June 7, 2011 | Ed Morrissey

[Hojczyk]

What a difference a month makes! Or, rather, what a difference one extraordinary event can make for a very brief time in polling, as well as some ridiculously skewed survey samples. Five weeks after scoring a +18 in approval in the Washington Post poll from the killing of Osama bin Laden, Barack Obama’s approval rating returned to its pre-OBL mission underwater status — although you’d need to get to the sample data to learn the extent of the fall:

The public opinion boost President Obama received after the killing of Osama bin Laden has dissipated, and Americans’ disapproval of how he is handling the nation’s economy and the deficit has reached new highs, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey portrays a broadly pessimistic mood in the country this spring as higher gasoline prices, sliding home values and a disappointing employment picture have raised fresh concerns about the pace of the economic recovery.

Obama’s approval rating from the last poll in the series (when the Post partnered with Pew rather than ABC) was 56/38. Today’s rating is 47/49, almost identical to the mid-April 47/50 Obama received. The mid-April approval rating was Obama’s worst in the series since the midterm elections, when likely voters gave him a 46/52 approval ratio. Today’s number represents a drop in the gap of 20 points, a dramatic decline, but it’s more likely just the electorate shrugging off the OBL bump and returning to Obama’s chronically poor performance as President.

And you know who that helps?

New Post-ABC numbers show Obama leading five of six potential Republican presidential rivals tested in the poll. But he is in a dead heat with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who formally announced his 2012 candidacy last week, making jobs and the economy the central issues in his campaign.

Among all Americans, Obama and Romney are knotted at 47 percent each, and among registered voters, the former governor is numerically ahead, 49 percent to 46 percent.

Actually, it helps pretty much all Republicans. In another question, the poll surveyed on Obama’s re-election prospects, and once again Obama hit new post-midterm lows. Only 24% of the overall sample will definitely vote for a second Obama term, while 45% will definitely not do so; among registered voters, those numbers go up to 25/47. That’s actually worse than last November, when the definite support hit the 24% low mark but Obama only had 41% definitely opposed to a second term. Against specific Republicans, Obama lost ground to Romney as well as Newt Gingrich and Tim Pawlenty, but in all three cases, the changes were within the margins of error; there were no changes in Obama versus Palin or Bachmann.

On the issues, Obama didn’t move all that much from the post-OBL mission poll — which is not good news for the President:

Economy – 40/59, was 40/55

Deficit – 33/61, was 39/58

Afghanistan – 52/41, was 60/29

Terrorism – 60/34, was 69/21

Republicans in Congress took the lead on public trust on the economy, 45/42 over Obama, for the first time since December. The outlook on the economy remains doggedly pessimistic, with only 11% rating it as positive at all, and 89% rating it negatively, the highest since the midterms. Eighty-one percent now rate the economic recovery as “weak,” up from 75% in February 2010. A large majority, 57/42, do not feel the effects of a recovery on their personal economic situation. These are not re-elect numbers by any stretch of the imagination.

Finally, let’s look at the sample. The D/R/I in the April poll sample was a ridiculous 32/22/41. This sample has a slightly better split, although still skewed at 31/25/39, which still undersamples Republicans. In a sample more reflective of reality, Obama’s job approval would be lower than the 47% shown here, and he’d be in deeper trouble against Republican challengers than this shows.

[albie]

Time for the dung beetle in chief to get his stolen Navy Seals gear back on.

[ZULU]

As Conan said, Obama needs to find and kill Usama (am I dreaming with these names?) six or seven times between now and the 2012 elections to get re-elected.

[exit82]

Charles Krauthammer doing spins in his chair, screaming “How can he possibly overcome 60% negatives!”

[radioone]

With these bad numbers, The Won needs to throw somebody under the bus, or blame GWB.

[Judith Anne]

One thing I would like is for the word “recovery” to stop being used for the economy.

NOTHING is recovering: NOT jobs, NOT housing, NOT the deficit!

We STILL DON’T HAVE A BUDGET!

There is no “recovery,” it’s getting worse. Everybody knows it. We need to throw the word “recovery” away, it’s a damn lie.

[nhwingut]

Only 24% of the overall sample will definitely vote for a second Obama term, while 45% will definitely not

That right there is the hidden nugget. He's -21 basically going into the election with those committed.

And 24% is your MoveOn base. That's it. He's lost pretty much everyone else. Stick a fork in him.

[Lazamataz]

Charles Krauthammer doing spins in his chair, screaming “How can he possibly overcome 60% negatives!”

Sorry. That treatment is reserved for Republicans.

[nhwingut]

Charles Krauthammer doing spins in his chair, screaming “How can he possibly overcome 60% negatives!”

Since only 24% say he deserves election. I'd peg his negatives even higher. But he gets a pass; it gets buried.

Whereas Palin's negatives are sirened across the net.

[bray]

Sampling 31/25 you will get the results you desire. Last vote was likely just the opposite. Basically subract 10% from their poll to get close.

Pray for America

[Liz]

Muslim Maoist Obama is so desperate he invokes Christian religious themes as 2012 nears.
washington examiner.com | 2/05 | julie mason
FR Posted February 06, 2011 by RummyChick

"When I wake in the morning, I wait on the Lord, and I ask Him to give me the strength to do right by our country and its people," Obama said. "And when I go to bed at night, I wait on the Lord, and I ask Him to forgive me my sins, and look after my family and the American people, and make me an instrument of His will." more at Wash/Ex.com

LAST YEAR'S OFFICIAL DNC POSTER

THIS YEAR'S OFFICIAL DNC POSTER

"Voters, Obama is baptized in the fire of faith."
"Obama's been saved. Thank you, Jesus."
"Voters, let's hear an Alleluia and an Amen."

[Blue Turtle]

Not sure what to make of this....we know the media wants to choose our candidate. They want Romney....so, is this poll fixed?

[Liz]

There was lotsa happy talk at a recent DNC conclave of his supporters about why Ohaha "deserves" to be reelected, and, why it is important for the DNC to make that happen............

(Sniffle) That's so true.

Heck, what's not to like? High unemployment, High food prices, High gas prices, High utility costs, Record home foreclosures, Bank closings, Investment losses, Stock market losses, A world-class culture in decline, overrun with terrorists and illegals, Trillions of US dollars guzzled by Mideast hellholes.... China dumping US Treasuries, $14 Billion loss on auto bailouts AND billions more in foreign aid to countries holding US Treasury notes.......as Americans lose their homes and nest eggs.

I guess the DNC will create a campaign based on Ohaha's "financial genius." And besides, Obama needs another four years so Michelle can gallivant around the globe in designer fashions, stay at luxe hotels, and eat lobster (sniffle).

THIS JUST IN News Reports Say Job Market Far Worse Than It Appears; raw numbers are downright scary.

Oh, happy day, now the DNC has a-n-o-t-h-e-r good reason to reelect Ohaha.

=========================================

Obama’s approval ratings appear to have steadily risen the past two months (course they only polled Dems). Getting rid of putrid Rahm, stashing the execrable Gibbs and Axelrod out of sight (behind the scenes in the reelection effort) was a good thing for Ohaha. And Pelosi out of the way, no longer praising Ohaha, and his healthcare plan, is also working well.

But look closely, voters.... as 2012 looms, Ohaha's looking less human by the minute---more like a vote-crazed, wild-eyed robot, mouthing sound bites.

SEE THE SYNCHRONIZED CANDIDATE Stay tuned. From hereonin everything he says will sound like a focus group sound-bite......with pre-programmed voice inflections, and synchronized hand and head gestures.

[Liz]

I guess Ohaha’s down numbers were too overwhelming——media had to go with them.

[FrankR]

[woodbutcher1963]

“In a sample more reflective of reality, Obama’s job approval would be lower than the 47% shown here, and he’d be in deeper trouble against Republican challengers than this shows.”

The last sentence says all you need to know about this poll. They TRIED to skew the results and they still came out bad.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”What a difference a month makes! Or, rather, what a difference one extraordinary event can make for a very brief time in polling, as well as some ridiculously skewed survey samples. Five weeks after scoring a +18 in approval in the Washington Post poll from the killing of Osama bin Laden, Barack Obama’s approval rating returned to its pre-OBL mission underwater status — although you’d need to get to the sample data to learn the extent of the fall:”

There was some hand wringing here about Obama getting credit for Bin Laden but history shows that that sort of thing can backfire on him when done so early compared to election with a crappy economy and rising national debt, as with Bush Sr. A month later few care about Bin Laden as they get that pink slip from their boss (who got one too) and in fact they even wonder why we are still in Afghanistan after Obama “Mission Accomplished” Bin Laden who he made the sole symbolic focus of the WOT or whatever it's called now. Of course there are political pitfalls to Obama pulling out too.

[SoFloFreeper]

Stench.

[scooby321]

You should have seen that former Kerry Aide Mary Ann trying to spin this poll.

It was sick.

[scooby321]

You should have seen that former Kerry Aide Mary Ann trying to spin this poll.

It was sick.