"For Democrats, the red flags are flying at full mast," said Democratic pollster Peter Hart.
scotia
Democratic Party continues to slump, amid a difficult economy and a wave of
public discontent, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
The findings underscored how dramatically the political landscape has
changed during the Obama administration's first year. In January, despite
the recession and financial crisis, voters expressed optimism about the
future, the new president enjoyed soaring approval ratings, and
congressional leaders promised to swiftly pass his ambitious agenda.
In December's survey, for the first time, less than half of Americans
approved of the job President Barack Obama was doing, marking a steeper
first-year fall for this president than his recent predecessors.
Also for the first time this year, the electorate was split when asked which
party it wanted to see in charge after the 2010 elections. For months, a
clear plurality favored Democratic control.
The survey suggests that public discontent with Mr. Obama and his party is
being driven by an unusually grim view of the country's status and future
prospects.
A majority of Americans believe the U.S. is in decline. And a plurality now
say the U.S. will be surpassed by China in 20 years as the top power.
Democrats' problems seem in part linked to their ambitious health-care plan,
billed as the signature achievement of Mr. Obama's first year. Now, for the
first time, more people said they would prefer Congress did nothing on
health care than who wanted to see the overhaul enacted.
"For Democrats, the red flags are flying at full mast," said Democratic
pollster Peter Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill
McInturff. "What we don't know for certain is: Have we reached a
bottoming-out point?"
The biggest worry for Democrats is that the findings could set the stage for
gains by Republican candidates in next year's elections. Support from
independents for the president and his party continues to dwindle. In
addition, voters intending to back Republicans expressed far more interest
in the 2010 races than those planning to vote for Democrats, illustrating
how disappointment on the left over attempts by party leaders to compromise
on health care and other issues is damping enthusiasm among core party
voters.
But public displeasure with Democrats wasn't translating directly into
warmth for Republicans. Twenty-eight percent of voters expressed positive
feelings about the GOP -- a number that has remained constant through the
Democrats' decline over the summer and fall. Only 5% said their feelings
toward the Republicans were "very positive."
And in one arena, Afghanistan, Mr. Obama appeared to have some success in
winning support for his planned troop surge. Liberals remain largely opposed
to the strategy, but in fewer numbers compared with before Mr. Obama made
his case in a speech at West Point. Overall, by 44% to 41%, a plurality
believe his strategy is the right approach.
Still, the survey paints a decidedly gloomy picture for Democrats, who
appear to be bearing the brunt of public unease as unemployment has risen
from 7.6% to 10% since Mr. Obama took office. Just 35% of voters said they
felt positively about the Democratic Party, a 14-point slide since February.
Ten percent felt "very positive."
"Overall, it's just a depressing time right now," said Mike Ashmore, 23
years old, of Lansdale, Pa., an independent who supported Mr. Obama last
year but now complained about the president's lack of action on jobs.
Julie Edwards, 52, an aircraft technician for Boeing Co. in Mesa, Ariz.,
said she voted Democratic in the past two elections but wasn't sure how she
would vote next time. She wondered why Wall Street firms were bailed out
when average Americans needed help. "We can bail out Wall Street, but
everybody else has to suffer in spades for it," she said.
Democratic leaders, while bracing for losses next year, have argued that
unlike the 1994 elections, in which Republicans gained 54 seats and took the
House majority, Democrats would survive 2010 in part because they are taking
steps to avoid that possibility. Republicans must gain 41 seats to take
control.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Democrats "fully intend to be
in the majority" after November 2010, and she was now shifting to "campaign
mode" to help candidates. Party officials are leaning on a number of
longtime colleagues to fight for their seats rather than retire.
The Journal/NBC survey found Ms. Pelosi's presence on the campaign trail
could do more harm than good. Fifty-two percent said they would be less
likely to vote for a candidate who agreed with the speaker almost all the
time, compared with 42% who felt that way about candidates siding with
Republican leaders.
For Mr. Obama, who has relied on his personal popularity to retain the clout
he needs to enact his legislative agenda, the survey pointed to troubling
signs.
A majority for the first time disapproved of his handling of the economy.
And the public's personal affection for the president, a consistent strong
suit, has begun to fray. Fifty percent now feel positive about him, six
points lower than in October and an 18-point drop since his early weeks in
office.
Democrats' troubles can be attributed in part to changing feelings among
some core supporters. A third of voters 34 and under, a group that turned
out heavily for Democrats last year, feel negative toward the Democratic
Party. And just 38% of Hispanics feel positive, down sharply from 60% in
February.
The survey, which was conducted Dec. 11-14, has a margin of error of 3.1
percentage points.
more at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126100346902694549.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories
tenjets
I'm waiting for the polls that ask about republican plans and
policies. Oh, wait. They have no plans and their policies failed. Does
anybody remember the job they did on this country during the previous
adminstration? No? We're living it everyday.
Altered History
"tenjets" <spameis...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7f71baed-7446-463b...@q18g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
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This is the repub plan under Carter and Clinton - Chasatise, obstuct and
stop the president on any form of progress. Then resort to tabloid smears.