by Mark Silva
"The mood in America may be blue,'' Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducted a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll with Republican pollster Bill McInturff, tells the survey's sponsors, "but the attitudes toward Washington are jet black."
While the president's approval rating holds at a low of 51 percent in this poll, the public's attitude toward the GOP has dimmed - with a growing percentage saying they prefer to keep Democrats in control of Congress in next year's midterm elections.
And the public's view of the economy is dim as well, with a growing percentage saying they don't believe the economy has hit bottom yet - and the public divided on Obama's handling of the economy: 47 percent voicing approval, 46 percent disapproval.
Support for a surge in U.S. forces in Afghanistan has grown in this survey - up to 47 percent in support and 43 percent opposed, a reversal from last month's 51 percent opposition and 44 percent support for more troops there.
Yet most support the president's delay of a decision over deployment of thousands of added troops until Afghans resolve their presidential election on Nov. 7 - 58 percent agree with that. Just 43 percent say they support sending 40,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, as Gen. Stanley McChrystal has recommended. Yet 62 percent say the generals should take precedent over the president in this decision.
Rated on his personal characteristics, 61 percent of those surveyed approve of Obama, but on a professional rating of how he the president is doing in getting his many goals accomplished, just 43 percent approve.
"Obama the man does well,'' says NBC's Chuck Todd reported tonight. "Obama the president, there are some questions.''
Support for Obama's health-care plans hasn't changed in a month: Only 38 percent call his plan a good idea, with 42 percent calling it a bad idea - the numbers virtually unchanged from September. However, support for what has become the most controversial element of it -- a government-run insurance plan that competes with private insurers, the "public option'' - has grown to 48 percent in the latest poll, up from 42 percent in September.
Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed say the economic slide still has "a ways to go,'' up from 52 percent who said so in September. Only 29 percent said the economy had "pretty much hit bottom," and that is down from 35 percent last month.
The Republican Party isn't faring well in this poll, either. Asked which party should control Congress after the 2011 midterm elections, Democrats now hold "a clear edge'' over the GOP, as the Journal puts it - 46 percent to 38 percent . Last month, the Democratic edge was 43-40.
Overall approval of the job that the president is performing - 51 percent - stands at the same level that a Journal/NBC News poll measured in late September. And 42 percent said they disapprove of the job he is doing.
The survey of 1,009 adults was conducted Oct. 22-25, and carries a possible margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Comments
Republicans have shed a fifth of their membership just since Pres Obama took office in Jan.
And yet they're still dragging their knuckles and pounding their chests about how they're going to kick the Dems butts in 2010 and how Obama is going to be a one termer etc.....hahaha!
The smaller the Republikkkans get, the louder they yell.
21 October 2009
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Only 20% Identify As Republicans
Only 20 percent of adults identify themselves as Republicans, little changed in recent months, but still the lowest single number in Post-ABC polls since 1983. Political independents continue to make up the largest group, at 42 percent of respondents; 33 percent call themselves Democrats.
http://whigblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/only-20-identify-as-republicans-42-are.html
Posted by: Wingnut FAIL | October 27, 2009 11:02 PM
The corporate media talking points buying into Republican bravado about gaining seats next year are even more brain-dead than usual, since the indications are all going in the opposite direction. Even if the economy turns south again, where are voters going to turn? Republicans have so discredited themselves that they are very nearly disqualified as as alternative.
CNN Poll: GOP favorable rating lowest in a decade
From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Republican Party's favorable rating among Americans is at lowest level in at least a decade, according to a new national poll.
Thirty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party, with 54 percent viewing the GOP negatively.
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http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/23/cnn-poll-gop-favorable-rating-lowest-in-25-years/
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Posted by: DrainYou | October 27, 2009 11:18 PM
Give me a break ! TWJ in an honest poll, you must be quoting from Letterman's monologue. That's like asking the Pentagon if it wants to give up Billions of our tax dollars, with the prospects of wars ending in Iraq and Afghanistan !! Again, from Letterman's monologue !!? Or was that Senator Leiberman's playbook !!? Why would anyone ask questions, they already know the answers to, especially if you word it, exactly as you want it to be answered !!? Get out of here, with your stinking polls !! The only polls are at election time and I will take my chances with President Obama, any time !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 28, 2009 12:07 AM
The country will be bankrupt, the way the man-child President is running things. Obama does not have a clue. He is a left-wing radical, that is destroying the economy. His health care program is meant to destroy the insurance industry and his cap and trade will destroy American jobs. He is going to devalue our dollar, with all the money he is spending, that we don't have. You can have Obama-ONE BIG A__ MISTAKE IN AMERICA!!
Posted by: Frank | October 28, 2009 12:13 AM
The liberal msm keeps talking about the 20% republican poll yet most ignored the Gallup poll from a few days ago that stated that a majority of the country is conservative. Does anyone really believe that conservatives are going to elect more hard core leftwingers in 2010?
“Conservatives” Are Single-Largest Ideological GroupPercentage
PRINCETON, NJ -- Thus far in 2009, 40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal. This represents a slight increase for conservatism in the U.S. since 2008, returning it to a level last seen in 2004. The 21% calling themselves liberal is in line with findings throughout this decade, but is up from the 1990s.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/120857/Conservatives-Single-Largest-Ideological-Group.aspx
Posted by: Dave | October 28, 2009 11:10 AM
Dimwit FITZ,
First - TWJ? Try WSJ.
Second, did you see who the partner with the WSJ is in the poll - NBC. You know, the employer of your dream girl - Rachel Madcow.
Third, the WJ is the only top 25 paper in the country that hasn't lost subscribers. As a matter of fact, it's now the # 1 paper in the country.
FITZ - A FLATLINER SLEEPING ON TEH CITY PAYROLL - GO BLAGO
Posted by: Terry | October 28, 2009 7:45 PM
Tinywit " Terry ",
You got me. I stand corrected. It is The WSJ. At least you got something right !!
I have never heard Ms Maddow, or Madcow, whichever you say it is. I do remember Bush Sr. singling out Obermann and Maddow (or some name like that ) as being just as nuts as all of your ventriloquists are, on Fox Noise. That's another story you can prepare for Fox Noise !!
It doesn't take a Fox Noise-boy to figure out, that TWSJ is where all the money is, at the moment. They are the only Weasels in our country who can support a newspaper and they are doing it with our money !! I hope you are laughing as heartily as I am !!
Oh, by the way, I am returning the favor. USA Today is the top circulating paper in America. So, you learned something today. That's good !! There is still hope for you, yet !!
Go, former Governor Blagojevich !! Go, Senator Burris !! Both of you have my vote in the upcoming elections, respectively !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | October 28, 2009 9:00 PM
"The smaller the Republikkkans get, the louder they yell."
Yes, that's due to the escape of all that hot flatulence.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 30, 2009 5:59 PM