AP poll: Obama’s numbers rebounding, especially on the economy
posted at 7:14 pm on February 22, 2012 by Allahpundit
A little piece of sour candy from your friendly neighborhood eeyore to put you in the right frame of mind for tonight’s debate.
Second look at concentrating on House and Senate races?
There is evidence that the nation is becoming markedly more optimistic, and that Obama benefits from that attitude.
Thirty percent in the poll describe the economy as “good,” a 15-point increase since December and the highest level since the AP-GfK poll first asked the question in 2009. Roughly the same share say the economy got better in the past month, while 18 percent said it got worse, the most positive read in over a year.
Looking ahead, four in 10 said they expect the economy to get better in the next year and a third said they think the number of unemployed people in the U.S. will decrease, the highest share on either question since last spring. A quarter of those surveyed said they expect the economy to get worse over the next 12 months, while 31 percent said it would stay the same, the poll found.
As optimism has risen, Obama has received a corresponding bump in his approval rating for handling the economy. Forty-eight percent now say they approve of how he’s handling it, up 9 points from December.
The partisan split was 29D/25R/30I or, if you include some indies as leaners, 41D/40R. O’s 48 percent approval on handling the economy is the highest in nearly two years if you exclude his Bin Laden bump in May 2011; among independents, he’s at 49 percent. The same is true for his job approval on unemployment: He’s back to even at 49/49, which is not only the first time in years that he’s avoided net disapproval on that figure — again, excluding May 2011 — but the first time since June 2010 that his disapproval number has been below 50 percent. (Scan the crosstabs and you’ll find the Bin Laden bump affecting his numbers across the board.)
The bottom line:
Decent evidence that the conventional wisdom is right: For an incumbent to have a fair shot at reelection, the economy’s bottom-line numbers are less important than the trendlines. Last month’s drop in unemployment suggests a good trend, which translates here into a 6-7 point swing over two months in whether The One should be reelected. Is that good news for Santorum fans, since it weakens Romney’s supposed economic strength against Obama, or good news for Romney fans, since it suggests we should opt for the most electable possible candidate as Obama’s fortunes brighten? (58 percent of Republicans think Romney’s more electable versus 32 percent who say Santorum is.)
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Sorry, I misread the expression. My sister was married to a Marine officers for more than 20 years–a commanding officer’s wife of a big domestic base for a few years. I suspect that she was one of these herself.
I read the expression as something related strictly to some creepy Obama network.
You squared me away. And, I suspect, my sister’s Marine officer son, who graduated from the USNA last year and is finished with TBS and IOC, is benefiting from some FRGs in his current assignment out on the West Coast.
Thanks for explaining things.
BuckeyeSam on May 21, 2013 at 7:52 AM
Hey, he’s made a whole career out of showing up at these events. I think he’s the one that made it popular to stand at the very southern point of Key West in gale force winds and tell people to find shelter.
It isn’t officially a weather-related disaster without Cantore reporting on scene.
Happy Nomad on May 21, 2013 at 7:52 AM
agree….
cmsinaz on May 21, 2013 at 7:56 AM
No bet. That was my very first thought when I heard that the rat-eared coward was going to start work early by speaking at 10am. I wonder if he’ll be dressed at that point or if he’ll be standing there in robe and slippers with a “World’s best Dictator” coffee mug.
Seriously though, these things are always heart-breaking but all the more so when it happens in a place like OKC where real people live. I really never felt empathy that a bunch of rich people lost their vacation homes on the Jersey shore but the rat-eared coward better do right by the people of Moore.
Happy Nomad on May 21, 2013 at 7:58 AM
Nixon was a choir boy compared to Obama
Basilsbest on May 21, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Well I definitely am cranky this morning. With that context let me tell you what I think is going on in the White House this morning. They are high-fiving themselves that something other than their corruption is going to be in the headlines this morning. The rat-eared coward is going to milk the deaths of those 91 as if they were gunned down in a CT elementary school. He will interefere with recovery operations by showing up to see the damage. He will call for legislation mandating storm shelters in all schools or something. In short, where you and I see heart-breaking destruction the filthy bastard sees a golden political opportunity.
Told you I was cranky.
Happy Nomad on May 21, 2013 at 8:03 AM
Here in NY, they’re still showing TV commercials asking people to donate for Hurricane Sandy ‘relief’ to ‘rebuild’.
I hope any funds allocated to LA don’t get bogged down because Congresscritters see an opportunity to pile on the pork.
Liam on May 21, 2013 at 8:04 AM
I have the same thoughts about how this will be handled from the WH and in the LSM. Then the coming fight to stop pork from being included in relief spending, with Obama telling of the evil of heartless Republicans. And, of course, our trolls with their usual love Obama/you’re evil brand of ghoulishness.
I’m quite sick of it all, and of them. All of ‘em.
Liam on May 21, 2013 at 8:08 AM
LA=OK
Coffee…more coffee…
Liam on May 21, 2013 at 8:08 AM
Was thinking the same thing HN…..didn’t want be cynical but I figured they were relieved to be off the radar for a little while
cmsinaz on May 21, 2013 at 8:14 AM
Our trolls are already out there blaming the GOP for not fully funding FEMA and instead wasting the money on stuff like the DoD.
I think the bigger problem is that the rat-eared coward has picked winners and losers when it comes to disaster relief. He couldn’t pour enough money into NY and NJ after Sandy but has steadfastly refused money to red states for wildfires and other disasters. I think OK becomes a winner since the bastard needs a distraction.
Happy Nomad on May 21, 2013 at 8:17 AM
I hope it sticks in his craw.
Liam on May 21, 2013 at 8:19 AM
Took the words right out of my mouth. We care for ourselves and each other. They cut spinal cords of newborn babies, leave valiant men to die when help is available, and rant about fairness and justice. Hell is too good for them, but I hope they rot there.
indypat on May 21, 2013 at 8:20 AM
I’m sure this time, we won’t be hearing about a racist president who left black people to die. There won’t be any LSM ‘in-depth’ reports of how badly FEMA messed things up, even the distribution of water.
The media will lay on the schmooze for Obama, while trying to blame Republicans for ‘underfunding’ the effort before a single penny gets to Moore.
Liam on May 21, 2013 at 8:27 AM
No problem Buckeyesam.
smoothsailing on May 21, 2013 at 8:34 AM
This presumes that Obama’s administration was capable of telling the truth at some point. Doubtful.
College Prof on May 21, 2013 at 8:35 AM
RUSH IS RIGHT!!!
Obama should not be compared to Nixon: he is more like Chavez and Putin!!!
landlines on May 21, 2013 at 10:03 AM
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