Gallup: Obama weekly average at low of 48%

The good news for Barack Obama?  His continued push for ObamaCare hasn’t dramatically damaged his approval ratings over the last three months.  The bad news?  It ain’t helping, either.  Gallup reports that his weekly job-approval ratings have drifted back to their lowest levels:

At 48%, President Barack Obama’s weekly job approval rating for March 8-14 ties the lowest weekly average of his administration so far. More broadly, however, Obama’s ratings over the last 3 ½ months have been relatively stable. …

Although Obama’s current weekly average is tied for the lowest of his presidency, it is only a point or two below where it has been for months. Obama’s three-day averages (reported daily on Gallup.com) have also operated in a fairly narrow range over the last 3 ½ months, ranging from 53% at several points in December and February to 46% at two points last week.

Gallup polls adults for job approval ratings, not registered or likely voters.  While the consistent nature of the sampling allows for longer-term analysis, it has less predictive value than polls of registered or (especially) likely voters, such as those conducted by Rasmussen.  Given the nature of sampling adults versus voters, the 48% rating probably overstates Obama’s support — and is itself a rather problematic number for a President heading into his first midterm elections.

Unsurprisingly, 83% of Democrats approve of his performance , an almost exact mirror image of Republicans, of whom only 12% approve of Obama’s performance.  The number for Democrats has changed little over the last four months, ranging from 81% to 86%.  Republican job approval has fluctuated slightly more, from the current low of 12% to 19% in mid-February.  The assessment of independents has been the least volatile, remaining in the margin of error between the current low of 44% and a high of 48% just after Christmas.

It’s a measure of stability, but not the kind of stability any politician would want to see.  At best, the numbers are flatlined at mediocrity, which may seem impressive after the post-Katrina numbers of George Bush, but aren’t going to help Obama win Congressional elections in November.

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