How’s that $450 billion, unfunded “jobs” bill working out? Ah, I see…
According to this McClatchy-Marist Poll, the president’s approval rating is at 39% among registered voters nationally, an all-time low for Mr. Obama. For the first time a majority — 52% — disapproves of the job he is doing in office, and 9% are unsure.
“President Obama needs to reboot his presidency,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Although numbers like these typically spell doom for an incumbent’s re-election prospects, the Republicans in Congress and eventually his GOP opponent could still provide Obama with running room.”
Except, as Ed Morrissey notes, this unfunded “jobs” bill was supposed to be the “reboot”. It was supposed to turn his presidency around and show voters that, despite wasting trillions of dollars and spending years focusing on government-run health care and political fundraisers, Obama is totally serious about creating jobs.
But four days later, not only are his approval numbers down but his personal favorability ratings, too. For the first time since Maris began polling his ratings, just 46% have a favorable view of the president. A plurality of 48% have an unfavorable view. Just 40% of Independents view him favorably.
Speaking of Independents, just 32% approve of Obama’s job performance. A whopping 57% disapprove. Yikes.
But wait, because you haven’t heard the best part. The poll’s sample actually favors Democrats.
The sample used by Marist gives Democrats an eight-point advantage, 34/26/39. That undersamples Republicans by a significant amount — Obama won the popular vote in 2008 by seven points in a political environment much more friendly to Democrats than now.
Just 39% approve of Obama’s job performance despite the fact the poll’s sample favors Democrats. Imagine what the number would be with more realistic numbers. Collapse.


by Stephan Tawney on September 20, 2011