Rasmussen: Obama at 45%
posted at 10:12 am on September 1, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Getting on TV didn’t help. Staying away from TV doesn’t appear to be helping, either. Barack Obama has to wonder how exactly he will stop the bleeding after today’s Rasmussen tracking poll shows him hitting the lowest level of his presidency, at 45% approval. His approval number now falls within the margin of error of his strong disapproval rating, a proximity that will mean trouble for his legislative agenda:
Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. That’s down a point from yesterday and the lowest level of total approval yet measured for Obama. Fifty-three percent (53%) now disapprove. …
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 30% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11[.]
Rasmussen also has a month-by-month analysis confirming that Obama has dropped precipitously over the summer. He had ridden as high as 57% in May, but now is under 50% for the entirety of their August polling. That includes some high-profile appearances in town halls and at Ted Kennedy’s wake, as well as significant cooling time on vacation at Martha’s Vineyard. Neither appears to have helped.
This latest tracking poll includes data taken Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the first poll with all survey data after Ted Kennedy’s wake. As I wrote yesterday, Obama’s appearance at the memorial has not given him any sort of bump despite efforts by supporters to link Obama’s agenda to Kennedy. If anything, Obama has dropped faster than earlier in the month.
Congress has to be watching this decline with a great deal of trepidation. Those facing constituents next year had hoped to rely on a popular President to garner turnout and discourage competition. How many of them will be running away from Obama a year from now rather than with him?
Blowback
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Only the ones with an above-room-temperature IQ.
AUINSC on September 1, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Time to set the limbo bar to 40….
Vashta.Nerada on September 1, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Cruel, cruel summer.
Disturb the Universe on September 1, 2009 at 10:14 AM
I love the smell of a new poll in the morning.
jamie gumm on September 1, 2009 at 10:15 AM
WOW!!! Dropped 20+ Pts in 8 Months. That’s gotta be somekind of record.
PappaMac on September 1, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Awesome!
becki51758 on September 1, 2009 at 10:16 AM
From the headline comments:
This should be worth another 10 pts to the downside once the public hears about it:
White House to Shift
Efforts on Civil Rights
New York Times, by Charlie Savage
WASHINGTON — Seven months after taking office, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is reshaping the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division by pushing it back into some of the most important areas of American political life, including voting rights, housing, employment, bank lending practices and redistricting after the 2010 census. As part of this shift, the Obama administration is planning a major revival of high-impact civil rights enforcement
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/us/politics/01rights.html
Buh, bye, Barry. We hardly knew ye, but it was far too long.
Cody1991 on September 1, 2009 at 10:16 AM
The Sleeping Giant has awakened. And he’s very ticked off.
kingsjester on September 1, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Time to go back on TV for another one of those prime time pressers.
You’ve got to know that he will. He can’t help himself.
He’s a superstar.
Knucklehead on September 1, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Looks like Glenn Beck, Rush, Shawn, Mark, Laura, and fox news are more effective than we thought.
fourdeucer on September 1, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Fastest fail since polling started?
doctormom on September 1, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I’m sure many of the Blue Dogs will, but what will they run towards? The center? Yeah, good luck with that campaign strategy after Porkulus, crap-and-betrayed, Obamacare, and $9 trillion in debt over the next decade. There’s no hiding from that record.
I don’t know how low Obama can go since I’ve said before I think he has a certain base of support that’s guaranteed no matter how bad things get. But bottom line is these numbers ain’t getting back up above 50% until the economy recovers. Only problem there is most economists don’t expect that to happen anytime soon.
Doughboy on September 1, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Yep, probably second fastest plummet at this point, only behind Ford.
LastRick on September 1, 2009 at 10:17 AM
I predict he will be addressing a joint session of Congress within 3 weeks to attempt to rally support.
tatersalad on September 1, 2009 at 10:17 AM
The maiden voyage of the SS Obama has hit a snag.
“Iceberg, dead ahead!”
And the rats desert as the Captain goes down with the sinking ship.
NoDonkey on September 1, 2009 at 10:18 AM
gosh….is that the THIRTIES I see on the Horizon?? Just imagine for one second how low his numbers would be IF we actually had a Media that did their job in an honest fashion?
Maybe 15% approval????
SDarchitect on September 1, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Summertime is racist.
Joe Caps on September 1, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Stop governing like a leftist radical thug, for starters.
BadgerHawk on September 1, 2009 at 10:18 AM
it’s gett’in real close to time to play the race card like petterson dun did…
SHARPTOOTH on September 1, 2009 at 10:18 AM
The beams of approval/disapproval crossed in late July. Guess what else happened then? Something about stupid Cambridge cops…
Cuffy Meigs on September 1, 2009 at 10:18 AM
hehehehe…..
The only thing BO does any good at is talking……and the more he does it he sinks a little more. If they think the solution to souring public opinion is more Barry the Teleprompter Clown on the tube flappin’ his yap then be my guest.
The best thing now for the POTUS is for him to pull his entire agenda, send Congress on an extended vacation, and he hole-up in a cabin in South Dakota until after the 2010 mid-terms. That might stop some of the blood loss we see right now. Maybe.
JoeinTX on September 1, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Nope, Ford fell around 30 points in 6 months. “Corrupt bargain” did him in.
LastRick on September 1, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Two ways…either step down, or step aside…Obama’s ideas are a disaster…
right2bright on September 1, 2009 at 10:19 AM
He’ll be radioactive by Christmas.
bloviator on September 1, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Time to orchestrate a crisis. Watch out for that Swine Flu.
Disturb the Universe on September 1, 2009 at 10:20 AM
The “sleeping giant”, the silent majority that stayed home last November is now paying attention. In addition to the folks who voted for John McCain (the lesser of two evils), those who really needed to vote are now making a lot of noise. If the focus and energy stays at an appropriate level, it may be possible to throw ALL these bums out and rebuild our Republic. Hmmmm…. my crystal ball is telling me that 35% DISAPPROVAL is possible by next spring and with a Congress as bad as we have presently, a complete purging by 2012 may actually be possible. Lord, that would be so sweeeeeet!
HomeoftheBrave on September 1, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Resignation, taking Quotin’ Joe, Nancy and Harry with him would be a good start. After all, Carter is one of my favorite EX-president.
gonegaltinstl on September 1, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Whenever I see that thumbnail, I think of him saying,
“Where are my peeps?”
Mr_Magoo on September 1, 2009 at 10:20 AM
He could start by calling for a reset on healthcare reform.
ICBM on September 1, 2009 at 10:20 AM
I have an idea how he can stop the bleeding
Resign!
gophergirl on September 1, 2009 at 10:21 AM
My extended family of Ivy-educated PhD morons still think Barack Obama is the second coming. I suppose they’re technically insane, but they do vote. There is a base of support under him. Even Hitler had company in the bunker.
JiangxiDad on September 1, 2009 at 10:21 AM
When I looked back at the S&P 500 vs Obama disapproval idea that Cramer floated and finally calculated the numbers, it appears that the real clincher was around June 12th – June 19th. My guess was Obama’s fumbling of the Iranian elections. But, you’re right, the Gates episode didn’t help; he really blew that one too.
LastRick on September 1, 2009 at 10:21 AM
How long before the ultimate back handed insult is lifted up by the elitists.
“We could have done worse, we had no choice, it was either Obama or McCain”…
“Our choice was the best one considering our options”…
I say in the next couple of weeks, when it drops near 40%…
right2bright on September 1, 2009 at 10:21 AM
His base is not a majority, or even a plurality at this point. His problem is independents.
ICBM on September 1, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Most predict a 9.5% unemployment rate in 4th quarter of 2010, just in time for midterms.
a capella on September 1, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Going after “Cheney and is ilk” is still the best circus in town. Red meat to keep the Left satisfied whilst he pulls the old rope-a-dope. After all, it worked for Ceasar.
Mr_Magoo on September 1, 2009 at 10:23 AM
As much as Dick MOrris annoys me, he feels the Dems will lose over 50 seats and that the Republicans will take back the House AND the Senate. That would be great…Im crossing my fingers.
becki51758 on September 1, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Obama is going to respond by spending a Wed-Mon at Camp David. Poor bastard is pooped after his week at the beach.
Seriously though, the critical question for the filthy liar is where does this leave his legislative agenda. Does he, as Allahpundit suggests, get Congressional Democrats to use the nuclear option and make the moonbats of the left happy by seizing healthcare? Does he admit defeat, pass some small part of Obamacare, and start in on other legislative schemes like no-strings-attached amnesty for illegals?
It’s too early to declare victory but it does appear that the filthy liar was right when he said that his Presidency was ruined if Congress didn’t get healthcare passed prior to the August recess.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Cool tool to compare polling data of presidents.
This is from USA Today and dates back to July, but it’s kinda cool. I wish they would update it. If you click Comparison tab, it looks like he’s polling like Nixon. Heh.
Key West Reader on September 1, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Are you kidding me Ed? The congresscritters don’t pay attention to the little people.
It’s all about them.
Knucklehead on September 1, 2009 at 10:24 AM
If we had such a thing, this jackass would be back in Chi-town, organizing communities and selling peanuts at Wrigley as a second job.
NoDonkey on September 1, 2009 at 10:24 AM
The entire Obama image is a myth. He barely beat Hillary in the primaries…she won all of the big, important states and he (to his credit) played the caucus states well and put him in a position to have the super delegates come to his side by playing the race card.
McCain/Palin were on their way to victory until the financial bailout of Sept. 08 when people got scared.
He has never succeeded in anything except positioning himself into positions of power by playing hardball (community organizing, senate, primaries, etc).
He has never governed, led or managed anything in his entire life.
It is no surprise to me that once the lights dim and the pillars are removed, we are left with an empty suit.
tatersalad on September 1, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I’ve never really been sold on this idea; can someone provide a good analysis of this? If you look just at vote totals, McCain almost has the same amount of votes as W in 2004. Now I know U.S. population changed over those 4 years but it looks like the biggest gain is the extra 10 million votes Obama got compared to Kerry.
LastRick on September 1, 2009 at 10:25 AM
This may be one example of why. I know our troops don’t not think all that highly of the man.
HoustonRight on September 1, 2009 at 10:25 AM
You don’t actually think this matters to him, do you?
This only proves to him that we’re just the unwashed masses who don’t know enough to govern ourselves properly.
Daggett on September 1, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I don’t think it is going to be that dramatic, though it would be nice if it were. Too many Congressmen are in utterly safe districts. Plus, the elections are over a year off and the polling is going to be different by then. The only way things will be all that dramatic next year will be for the anti-incumbency movement to take hold and we truly (for the first time) throw all the bastards out of office.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 10:26 AM
MSM Headline: Most popular president evah!
LibTired on September 1, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I think he needs a vacation from his vacation from his vacation.
LibTired on September 1, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Let me be clear… I suck.
D2Boston on September 1, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I am afraid to break out the bubbly and do the happy dance, just yet.
TXMomof3 on September 1, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I’m more concerned about the fact that the troops don’t trust the bastard. They’ll respect the office of the President but that doesn’t mean they should be expected to go into harm’s way for a leader who thinks more of terrorist rights than keeping America safe.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM
I like this but I’m not too excited about it. There are still plenty of doofuses out there who’d enthusiastically vote for him again.
ncborn on September 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Where are the Trolls? Are they having daily Conference Calls with Axelrod now?
kingsjester on September 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM
I wonder how many people have learned alarming things about Obama’s past this year, and wondered to themselves: “How did I not hear about this during the election?”
jp on September 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM
How low did Clinton get in 93?
jp on September 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM
That’s kinda what Holder is doing now with his new emphasis on minorities. Too late and overused. It will just add to the bad vibes.
a capella on September 1, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Upper 30s.
LastRick on September 1, 2009 at 10:29 AM
It’s the tsars, stupid!
For the last several decades, the power in the Fed has shifted from the Executive to the Congress. After all, Congress controls the purse.
Obama, though, is running right around congress, appointing tsars who can run agencies utterly without oversight.
What’s going to happen when the GOP wins a thin majority – are they going to yank funding for the tsars – when they’d be so very useful to a Republican-centric statist agenda?
I don’t think so. I’d love to be proven wrong, but .. when was the last time a government program was actually dismantled?
Mew
acat on September 1, 2009 at 10:30 AM
If Palin tapped his forehead he would fall over.
tomg51 on September 1, 2009 at 10:30 AM
MSM Headline:
Most popular president evah!Rasmussen faces possible investigation into his personal and financial life. More at 11.tatersalad on September 1, 2009 at 10:31 AM
aww…dont ruin my fantasy! lol Isnt it good to have “high hopes”?
becki51758 on September 1, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I wonder is she will launch any long-range bombs from Hong Kong.
ICBM on September 1, 2009 at 10:32 AM
This may be one example of why. I know our troops don’t not think all that highly of the man.
HoustonRight on September 1, 2009 at 10:25 AM
That was a real CiC.
fourdeucer on September 1, 2009 at 10:32 AM
The WH Wag the Dog Committee meets this afternoon. So does the Whig Reach Across the Aisle Committee. Meanwhile, send Ochavez out for more Mussolini-like photo ops.
james23 on September 1, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I’d like to know how much we’re paying all these czars.
Cody1991 on September 1, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I agree. Why would they trust him? His policies make their jobs harder and put their lives more at risk. This having to ask multiple times to get the order to engage is ridiculus. And the 90 hr rule on detainees. Heck the cops can hold you for 48 for basically no reason at all.
This man is dangerous to all involved.
HoustonRight on September 1, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Then he’s screwed. That’s a status quo the electorate won’t tolerate.
Doughboy on September 1, 2009 at 10:33 AM
My reserve community sent out an E-mail looking for four more volunteers to go to Afghanistan.
I’m sure they’ll get them due to unemployment and if I had no job I would go too.
But I do and my choice is to retire. I’m not getting jacked for a conflict that this administration is going to crap all over and then claim it’s all Bush’s fault in the end. No sir-ee.
NoDonkey on September 1, 2009 at 10:33 AM
right. This is about more than just Obama. If we can maintain momentum, the whole thing needs a good scrubbing regardless of party. btw, I’m sick of Orrin Hatch.
a capella on September 1, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Y’all just hatin’ on a black man in the White House.
greggriffith on September 1, 2009 at 10:34 AM
A lot of his voters are unemployed in good times or bad.
TXMomof3 on September 1, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Not as low as Monica in ’96. Oh!
LibTired on September 1, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Read the lyrics in the song Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis and you’ll get an idea of who will continue to “open their veins” for him. The ‘I Love You Barack’ groupies are still out their. I see them wandering around the office every day. They are usually women. Many are lost souls. Of course, I’m losing my job on 9/25 so what do I know.
“Bleeding Love” (partial lyrics; compacted)
Closed off from love I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass Before you know it you’re frozen
But something happened For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground Found something true
And everyone’s looking round Thinking I’m going crazy
But I don’t care what they say I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I Keep bleeding Keep, keep bleeding love
Trying hard not to hear But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal Is to keep me from falling
But nothing’s greater than the risk that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness I see your face
Yet everyone around me Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe
But I don’t care what they say I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I Keep bleeding Keep, keep bleeding love
And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars For everyone to see
I don’t care what they say I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I Keep bleeding Keep, keep bleeding love
Mr_Magoo on September 1, 2009 at 10:35 AM
That’s true. I mean just look at how conservatives have been hating on Michael Steele, Condi Rice, Colin Powell, J.C. Watts, and Clarence Thomas over the years. And it’s not just black politicians we’re against. We all want Crist over Rubio in Florida.
/sarc
Doughboy on September 1, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Obama: YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!
Voters: Cut Medicare? No you can’t!!!
Steve Z on September 1, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Especially when it shows our Marxist-in-Chief auguring into the ground at near supersonic speeds.
johnsteele on September 1, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Heh!!!
It’s Bush’s fault!!!
Baxter Greene on September 1, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Are we going to hear the constant drumbeat, “a deeply unpopular president,” like the MSM did with Bush?
I predict an approval rating in the 30s before the year’s out.
Richard Romano on September 1, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Remember one thing: Whatever the polls say, Osama Obama and his ultra-left America-haters, his czars and disgraceful appointees, are still in power. The next opportunity for us is still 14 months away.
I would not bet on the Child-President being cowed by poll results. He has shown no regard for public opinion or the Constitution before this moment; why start now?
MrScribbler on September 1, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Hope is returning.
bridgetown on September 1, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Exactly. What’s odd to me is that fact was ignored. He steamrolled a very aggressive agenda in, so he had to have seen this coming.
What’s really odd is that in terms of actual passage, only the TARP and stimulus bill went through. Everything else is simply for show.
If he thinks the unions are going to be the answer, he is off.
AnninCA on September 1, 2009 at 10:38 AM
If they hadn’t stayed home, O’bama would have never been elected.
Thanks again, folks.
Del Dolemonte on September 1, 2009 at 10:39 AM
This is one captain who will never go down with the ship — he’s the kind who would toss his own kids overboard to ensure himself a place in the lifeboat.
johnsteele on September 1, 2009 at 10:39 AM
You talkin’ about this woman?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKXhCGjCOh0
Joe Caps on September 1, 2009 at 10:39 AM
If you look at the polling, the filthy liar in the White House pretty much has about 30% of the population locked up as unthinking drones (you know, the type that call any criticism racist). His numbers will never get below the 40% range for any length of time but if they do I will be the first to admit my error.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 10:41 AM
McCain? We would be staring down the barrel of healthcare reform, cap and trade and amnesty, all with “bipartisan” support.
LibTired on September 1, 2009 at 10:41 AM
You should tell them that not only did O’bama win the majority of PhDs (Piled High and Deep) but he also overwhelmingly won the votes of high school dropouts. So they both have something in common.
Del Dolemonte on September 1, 2009 at 10:41 AM
I can imagine he is being filled with so much hogwash right now from his HANDLERS that he thinks he’s fine.Keep thinking that mr.prez.!
ohiobabe on September 1, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Maybe this is the next step to counter-act that:
Regardless of the outcome of ObamaCare, if past behavior signals the future, the Obama administration’s next big push will be to mute its most successful critics.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/09/obamas_next_big_push.html
ICBM on September 1, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Yes, correct. But there is a floor. Just not sure where that is.
JiangxiDad on September 1, 2009 at 10:42 AM
I would have been willing to take that chance.
Del Dolemonte on September 1, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Yeah, but he’s already got the welfare vote locked up. He needs working folks to have any chance of reelection.
Doughboy on September 1, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Keep searching, you’ll find it (Count DeMoney)… An approval rating below 40, that is!!
Khun Joe on September 1, 2009 at 10:42 AM
The GOP didn’t give them anything to vote for. McCain was proposing all the same stuff as the filthy liar in the White House. It would be interesting to know what kind of a legislative agenda McCain would have adopted.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Gibbs blamed Bush for the mess with Afghanistan yesterday in his presser.
Knucklehead on September 1, 2009 at 10:43 AM
The toe-sucking scuzzball can’t be right on that one… That would mean a 11-seat swing, as Biden breaks the tie if it’s 50-50.
To pull that off, the Republicans would have to hold all of its vulnerable and open seats (Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, etc.) and pull just about every seat that the Dems have up in 2010.
That would likely mean taking 11 of the following 13 races: Nevada (Harry Reid), California (Barbara Boxer), Delaware, Illinois, New York (Kristen Gillibrand), North Dakota (Byron Dorgan), Wisconsin (Herb Kohl), Arkansas (Blanche Lincoln), Hawaii (Daniel Inouye), Colorado, Massachusetts, Connecticut (Chris Dodd), and Pennsylvania (Arlen Specter).
There are an additional 6 Dem seats up, but Indiana (Evan Bayh), Maryland (Barbara Mikluski), New York (Chuck Schumer), Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (Patty Murphy) are considered mortal locks for the Dems.
Taking 11 of those 13 races in the first list is possible but VERY VERY UNLIKELY because Senators like Kohl and Inouye are heavily entrenched and some of those states, like Massachusetts, are strongly Dem.
teke184 on September 1, 2009 at 10:43 AM
The crucial question. Do the Blue Dogs fear the Indy vote enough to buck Obama on this issue, which has awakened the “sleeping giant”?
Steve Z on September 1, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Right now, it’s all about coattails, Congress, and 2010. There is an inverse relationship between his approval ratings and courage levels of centrist donks. However, as noted above, many donk seats are safe.
a capella on September 1, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I think Morris is smoking something. I’d love it if he’s right, but I think we’ll gain some seats, maybe 20-25, in the House and one or two in the Senate. Enough to cause the Dems real problems with their Marxist agenda but not enough to wrest control.
At the end of the day I think we’ll all be surprised by how many of these currently “angry constituents” will end up voting to return their SOB to Congress in November 2010.
johnsteele on September 1, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Sorry about the job loss, and the sucky ordeal you have to go through to get rid of this POS. Good luck to you.
JiangxiDad on September 1, 2009 at 10:44 AM
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