Obama at 49% in the heart of Hope and Change?
posted at 2:55 pm on November 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Barack Obama’s approval ratings have spent the last several days under 50% in Gallup’s national poll (at 49% today), but a poll out of Iowa may have more significance for both Obama and the Democrats. Obama won Iowa’s caucuses in January 2008, unexpectedly vaulting to the top of the nomination race, and his populist campaign caught fire in the Midwest generally. Now, a new Des Moines Register poll this weekend shows Obama slipping 19 points since his inauguration — and losing Iowa’s independents:
Fewer than half of Iowans approve of President Barack Obama’s performance in office a year after he carried the state in the 2008 election, according to The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll.
Obama’s overall job approval slipped to 49 percent from 53 percent in September. Iowans’ approval is down 19 percentage points since an Iowa Poll in January, about the time he was inaugurated.
A majority of Iowans now say the Democrat’s performance in key economic areas is inadequate, including health care, his top domestic priority.
Obama didn’t just win the Iowa caucuses. He also blew John McCain out in the general election, 54%-45%, in a state that went to George W. Bush in 2004. That has entirely dissipated, as Iowans have apparently awoken after the inauguration with a big HopeandChangeTM hangover..
In fact, Obama’s under water on almost every measure the Register surveyed:
- Economy: 41% approval, 55% disapproval (-14)
- War management: 38/49 (-11)
- Health care: 34/55 (-21)
- Deficit: 30/61 (-31)
Obama gets a -21 on health care? That’s practically a poster issue for Iowa populists. For Obama to have fallen to that level, Iowans must really have a big problem with ObamaCare. It seems as though Obama miscalculated his populist mandate … even among populists.
The deficit number is also significant. Obama has tried blaming Bush for the last ten months for the deficits, and Iowans may have been sympathetic to that argument — for a while. However, they clearly have shifted the blame to Obama and the Democrats, who project massive deficits for the next ten years that dwarf anything Bush did, while pushing big-spending statist agenda items. That’s not Bush’s fault, and Iowans know it.
Update: Bush narrowly lost Iowa in 2000.
Blowback
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How much of these negative numbers are from those who are upset Obama hasn’t pushed harder for a more radical agenda?
aikidoka on November 23, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Families can’t pay bills with Hope & Change.
Families can’t feed their children with Hope & Change.
Families can’t pay their mortgage with Hope & Change.
This realization is slowly being realized.
portlandon on November 23, 2009 at 2:58 PM
How’s voting for the “cool kid” working out for you Iowa?
forest on November 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM
How did common-sense Iowans fall for the ‘change’ con in the first place? Baffling.
LASue on November 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM
You sure about Iowa going for Bush twice? I think Gore won Iowa in 2000.
angryed on November 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM
30?
Thirty?
30% of Iowians must like Obama to do sex to them.
PackerBronco on November 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Take another Bow, Barry
Juno77 on November 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM
But. . . but. . . but – oh, a UNICORN! LOOK!!!
RedNewEnglander on November 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM
How does this change anything, though? These radicals aren’t listening to the people…they are gonna push whatever they want through anyways. I bet if a poll should 99% were against a particular policy, they would still shove it through. Let them eat cake.
search4truth on November 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Obama standing at that farm is more out of his element than Eva Gabor in Green Acres. People are finally figuring out how out of touch with average Americans this Marxist is.
kingsjester on November 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Hangover after the big bash, or maybe I should say crash.
Terrye on November 23, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Nobody with a lick of common sense fell for the hope and change.
OscarSchneegans on November 23, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Iowa votes for the person who says “God1″ and “Jesus” the most. When they couldn’t have Huck as the Republican nominee they voted for the non-religious person who pandered to them the most-Obama.
Speedwagon82 on November 23, 2009 at 3:02 PM
“HopeandChangeTM”
Ed, Is that really trade mark protected or is that your sense of humor showing?
Guest1.1 on November 23, 2009 at 3:03 PM
I blame Iowa for this administration
the caucus shenanigans there got us here
bitter clingy and long memory, yep
ginaswo on November 23, 2009 at 3:04 PM
It’s about time Iowa. I’ve been ashamed to say I’m a native Iowan since last years vote AND the gay marriage thing from the Iowa Supreme Court.
However, I’m sure Iowans are collectively gagging on the price tag of utopia coupled with the price of cows and pigs, things aren’t looking greener on the other side of the fence, if youknowhutimean.
Obama had the opportunity to fool Iowa once, and that was all he needed. He Won, just ask him….
ted c on November 23, 2009 at 3:04 PM
So Why are they still Rahming it up our……. throats.
Juno77 on November 23, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Peggy Joseph is singing..“What have you done for me lately.”
Caper29 on November 23, 2009 at 3:04 PM
the best was Barry in Iowa talking about the price of arugula at Whole Foods
this despite there being no Whole Foods in Iowa
and they thought he really ‘got’ middle America
fools
ginaswo on November 23, 2009 at 3:05 PM
The only question remaining is how much damage Obama will inflict on our great country before enough democrats understand what is going on to stop it. The American people, who gave this jerk a chance, are going to jerk his chain.
GaltBlvnAtty on November 23, 2009 at 3:06 PM
When will the Big O
Hit Zero?
He’s fiddling like Nero
While down the toilet we go.
hillbillyjim on November 23, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Heh, heh, heh;
How much longer before we can foreclose on the White House? I’d love to see all his crap out on the street from being evicted!
Cybergeezer on November 23, 2009 at 3:08 PM
He and his team actually used Chicago thug tactics if I remember correctly and locked Hillary supporters out of caucuses.
SouthernGent on November 23, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Didn’t Bush lose Iowa in 2000 and win in 2004?
Bravesbill on November 23, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Mass hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome. As I watched the coronation process unfold my frustration was building. WTH are you all doing I asked.
Yes Oscar common sense of the masses failed when they elected the man without a past.
FireBlogger on November 23, 2009 at 3:16 PM
The crackas of Iowa are making their presence felt, what else could it be except racism.
Bishop on November 23, 2009 at 3:16 PM
I wonder if white liberals now feel guilty about feeling guilty.
Bevan on November 23, 2009 at 3:16 PM
So hawkeyes, how was that trip from reality? Welcome back. Now pay attention please.
DanMan on November 23, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Looks like more then just the Earth has been cooling since it hit its peak. Are there any “Scientists” out there who can “hide the decline” where it comes to Obama’s ever downward poll numbers?
Sharr on November 23, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Most fools are teachable. So a lot of Americans were fooled, most of them aren’t stupid.
We on the right huff and puff about getting the GOP on the right track, and rightfully so.
But if the Dems don’t fix their party, the black eye it is getting now will last a LONG time. Even most Dems don’t want a bunch of Marxists taking over their party and the country. HUGE black eye, their reputation is blown.
jodetoad on November 23, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Alternate headline: Obama’s Cornbelt Cornhole
UltimateBob on November 23, 2009 at 3:24 PM
The only question remaining is how much damage Obama will inflict on our great country before enough democrats understand what is going on to stop it. The American people, who gave this jerk a chance, are going to jerk his chain.
GaltBlvnAtty on November 23, 2009 at 3:06 PM
What is a hell of a lot to the power of 100?
angryed on November 23, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Noticeable rise in racism across the Hawkeye state.
Ted Torgerson on November 23, 2009 at 3:25 PM
How did Iowa and Minnesota become such bastions of left-wing insanity? Does the cold make you crazy?
angryed on November 23, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Forking bastinos
UltimateBob on November 23, 2009 at 3:29 PM
We share a border, the craziness is freely exported and imported.
Bishop on November 23, 2009 at 3:30 PM
I feel the worst for Black Americans. I always wondered if they were fully prepared for what was obviously coming, and that is a complete disenchantment.
Honestly, I think it’s going OK. He’s dropping due to actual policy positions or lack of positions. It’s not about his race, thankfully.
AnninCA on November 23, 2009 at 3:37 PM
They feel placated, I’m guessing. They gave him a wonderful opportunity.
He blew it.
AnninCA on November 23, 2009 at 3:38 PM
I say we don’t let Iowa go first from now on. They haven’t been doing a very good job lately.
Bastinos. Love it.
BobMbx on November 23, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Seriously, why is Iowa so darned important?
Tom
marinetbryant on November 23, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Wow. I guess I channel-surfed through MSNBC at the right time.
There was a reporter reporting on a White House dinner that is happening soon (tonight?) and she was talking about the guest list with David Shuster (yes, _that_ David Shuster) – and I was amazed to hear him say:
“This is a White House that is loath to make a difficult decision”.
This in the context that Obama is having yet another ‘event’, but no decision on Afghanistan.
Ah – dude – when you have lost Shuster, you might as well pack the tent.
Timothy S. Carlson on November 23, 2009 at 3:44 PM
This is all great news that BHO is tanking so early in his term. This means he will continue tanking or will actually change his stance on everything to win the independents back. I don’t have much confidence in his ability to do the latter. Please God help us until we can take back our government.
carbon_footprint on November 23, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Iowa is important because our primary and caucus systems are as fxxxed-up as a soup sandwich.
hillbillyjim on November 23, 2009 at 3:45 PM
That won’t stop the usual suspects from making it all about race.
Coming soon: “Are we holding Obama to a too-high standard because of his race?”
PackerBronco on November 23, 2009 at 3:47 PM
A lot of the disapproval in his numbers is because he is not succeeding in imposing socialism. We’ve got a long way to go before this country is safe.
pedestrian on November 23, 2009 at 3:52 PM
obama’s chickens are coming home….to roooooossssstttttt!
HornetSting on November 23, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Iowans have gotten used to plagues of narcissists coming every four years and pledging billions of dollars of other peoples money to make their lives more enjoyable.
pedestrian on November 23, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I think that Maobama simply tailored what he stood for based on where he was peddling his crap. One of his great talents is to make a case of any side of any issue and not be called on it.
Itchee Dryback on November 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM
With Shuster involved, there will be a lot of teabagging going on in the WH tonight…..
HornetSting on November 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM
I have one problem with all of these stories. Of course, he’s melting down.
I hate to bring up the obvious, but Geraldine Ferraro absolutely told the political truth. Obama was the right Black guy at a particular time in history. Hillary was terrifically prepared. But, she was a Clinton. That’s the reality of her story.
Obama was new, Black, and we sure didn’t want another GOP candidate who would continue Bush’s policies. Even GOP’ers were apathetic on that count.
He received the gift of the “perfect storm.”
What I never got about his campaign was why he didn’t tone down the promises.
Now, he’s going to be the next great Black Jimmy Carter. I predict history will not treat him kindly.
Bush will actually come out looking much stronger.
But I don’t get the surprise over his polls. Of course, he’s melting.
He was nothing but a mirage, anyway.
AnninCA on November 23, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Voters remorse, or just too many idiots who don’t care enough this country to peel back the thin layer of the Obama veneer prior to exercising their duty to vote responsibly? Or, maybe there are too many “The View” watchers in Iowa.
Either way, it’s a compelling reason to hold all national primaries on the same day.
orlandocajun on November 23, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Shuster and Annin CA…turned on the same day. Nothing like a former-Obama supporter, eh?
Whats next…Couric expresses homosexual feelings for Palin? “I didn’t want anyone to notice…so I had to be mean”…Fox News reports that the Cuda wretched violently when told the Couric story.
BobMbx on November 23, 2009 at 4:03 PM
He did that because they dragged his backers in from Illinois to Iowa to chase away all of the old folks and browbeat those who remained into supporting this sack of sh!t.
Surprising allies in defeating this fraud in 2012: HillBuzz, the liberal-leaning blog who is out to unseat “Dr Utopia” by backing Palin and generally working against Obama.
VoyskaPVO on November 23, 2009 at 4:03 PM
I don’t see people identifying that they voted out of white guilt, although I personally think it’s obvious.
That’s not how real people think.
They just register disappointment, find an issue and latch onto that, and then reverse course.
AnninCA on November 23, 2009 at 4:03 PM
So Iowa finally got a real good sniff of Hopeandchange and recognized that old familiar smell….manure?
Wethal on November 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM
AnninCA on November 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM
I know. Repent, the end is near.
Actually, Ann has been making some decent points in her journal style way.
HornetSting on November 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM
When is Iowa going to have a PRIMARY for a change and spare us this madness?
We might have ended up with President Hillary, but she would be a vast improvement over EgObama.
Steve Z on November 23, 2009 at 4:09 PM
A google.
Count to 10 on November 23, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Maybe most Democrat voters don’t want that, but try to find a Dhimmicrat politician currently in elected office and you’ll play Hell finding more than a handful. In state or federal government. Democrat voters are just as clueless and stupid as Republican voters who routinely vote to put RINOs in office and expect them to act conservative or Republican. If you elect a man or woman who says they are for big government and public health care, you will not find them voting to win in Afghanistan or Iraq against their party. They just don’t care about foreign policy, and believe that if ignored, the rest of the world will leave us alone in Peace. They only care about perpetuating their own politcical power, forevermore. Why else would they consistently cheat to steal elections through voter fraud, if their policies were such winners?
They are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
Subsunk
Subsunk on November 23, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Nor do I as I said as much the day he was elected. This popularity as it was managed-and-manufactured could no place but down and it also would not make for good leadership… though Obama’s record such as it was pretty much confirmed and made this outcome inevitable.
Hopefully there aren’t more tragic outcomes on the horizon…
Sharr on November 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM
I for one, do not feel bad for them. If they voted for Obama solely on his race, then they were idiots, and I have no sympathy for them or others who voted for him that did not take the time to become educated voters.
AnninCA…are you kidding? It has never been about his race. Why do you, and folks like you, always have to bring up race? It has gotten old and tired, just like ‘gender identity’ politics. It is about his policies, always has been. He is a Marxist, simple as that.
Gothguy on November 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Bill Clinton “changed his stance on everything to win the independents back” after Republicans took over the House in 1995. Clinton was a pragmatist first and an ideologue second, whereas Obama is so full of himself that he will keep pushing his radical agenda even if everyday Americans start beating on the White House windows with pitchforks.
To him, all America is like Chicago, otherwise they’re racist.
Obama isn’t up for re-election next year, but the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate are, and THEY might be reading polls right now. Therein lies our Hope for Change!
Steve Z on November 23, 2009 at 4:23 PM
I’ve become convinced that in the case of the much touted Iowa caucus events, the persons who put on the best buffet and make the best coffee probably determine the winner.
jeanie on November 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Tell the truth. I remember your incredibly annoying posts over on No Quarter; the site from which you were banned for spamming and hijacking threads to disrupt the McCain/Palin ticket.
You were against McCain/Palin and PUMAS over the abortion issue. Everyone here knows Abortion is your hot issue and you were adamantly against Palin for that very reason.
You were trying to scare the PUMA Dems who flipped over to McCain/Palin by playing the Abortion Rights card. I remember.
If you were against McCain/Palin in the last election, then you supported Obama. Its OK to change your mind, but don’t lie about it.
Geochelone on November 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
I moved from western Illinois (Quad cities) to Alabama this summer. The people there identify more with Iowans than they do with the majority of people from Illinois. Support for Obama had a lot to do with ethanol. McCain didn’t support it and Obama does…
texabama on November 23, 2009 at 4:45 PM
All this talk about polls is meaningless; if anything sinking poll numbers will get us more pain faster. They can lie about a mandate until Nov 2010, and I imagine they plan on doing exactly that. They’ve got foot soldiers that can’t wait to be the next sacrificial lamb; ask Israel how tough it is to fight that mindset.
johnny alpha on November 23, 2009 at 4:54 PM
IF ONLY conservatives can take advantage of what will be a sea change…if only…
winston on November 23, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Gee, them there Iowa folk sure are on ‘the cutting edge’ aren’t they. Freakin’ idiots can suffer with the moron they put in the White House. They’ve got 3 MORE YEARS of Hope and Change. Live with it!
GarandFan on November 23, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Corn, man. Corn.
jimmy2shoes on November 23, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Iowa is full of old people, I believe it is their largest demographic. See how devastating Palin’s “Death Panel” remark was?
Daemonocracy on November 23, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Families had better hope then can pay for all the above with the change Obama is going to be leaving them!
chickasaw42 on November 23, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Frontman for the biggest fraud in the history of humanity. It boggles the mind.
marklmail on November 23, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Let it be said that Obama and Chevrolet both use to be the heartbeat of America. Not any more. They’ve both have outlived their usefulness.
mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm
bluegrass on November 23, 2009 at 6:27 PM
+++1000
It has been hard to know that my state apparently lost it’s mind last year…but it looks poised to take back the Governership.
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/70159562.html
http://campaigndiaries.com/2009/11/16/republicans-receive-encouraging-polls/
And it looks like we have a bright new star on the republican landscape:
“Republican governor’s race: Ambition, strategic thinking drive Fong”
The youngest candidate seeking the Republican nomination for governor often starts campaign speeches talking not about himself, but about his father, a Chinese immigrant who, at times, ate rotten potatoes to save money to help his family flee communism.
Fong read 150 pages a day by seventh grade, he said, graduated from high school by age 16 and, by age 19, earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics from Creighton University.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091111/NEWS/911110371
lovingmyUSA on November 23, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Iowa has their own State mandated health insurance that goes into effect in 2010. “Any dependent under the age of 20 must have the sanctioned level of health insurance provided by the parent/guardian. I think Iowans are waking up to how that stinks on a State level and more so on the Federal level.
I’m still trying to figure Grassley’s angle on HC, what with his constant “working” with the Dems on ObamaCare. Does he believe in the concept of mandating HC and was negotiating to ensure that IowaCare & Obamacare could co-exist? Did he “walk” away from Baucus in order to protect IC or did he really have a CTJ moment during the tea parties?
The way I see it Grassley is all about the money, in IC the money flows Statewide, whereas OC requires the money to flow to the Feds. I may be cynical, but in any case, it’s time some new blood stepped in to take his place.
Term Limits!!!
AH_C on November 24, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Out here in the Quad Cities, the mood really seems to have shifted. In the height of Summer, there were alot of Obambi stickers. Now it’s been so long since 1 was sighted.
That and all the Dem/RINO blowhards blowing into Thompson, declaring that the region wants and needs the Gitmo detainees to be housed here and to have the DoD shift up to 1500 soldiers there to guard them.
Question, what ever happened to Michigan being a front-runner for getting the detainees? Surely the unemployeed could use the jobs boost /s. Truth is Turban Durbin is the one that gets to bring the bacon home on this score.
Aside from ethanol, Iowa also realized they need to brace for cap & trade to kill their industries. I guess when cap & trade came out, they heard “crap & trade” and thot they had a market for livestock manure.
Yep, Hopey-Changey worked real good for Iowa
AH_C on November 24, 2009 at 12:47 AM