The latest Gallup poll released yesterday was no doubt welcome news at the White House: "President Barack Obama's job approval rating has risen to 56%, by two percentage points his highest three-day reading since October 2009."
To be sure, Gallup's credibility took a hit after a very rough election cycle, but it's not the only pollster showing the president's approval rating on the upswing -- separate polls from CBS News and the Associated Press showed support for Obama's job performance at 57%.
There are multiple explanations for the president's improved standing, and they're not mutually exclusive. In recent weeks, there's been improved economic data, a horrific national tragedy (which sometimes leads to a "rally around the flag" effect), and fiscal talks in which the president has offered a series of good-faith compromises. The developments come against the backdrop of the president's re-election, which also usually leads to increased public support.
And while approval ratings may seem largely irrelevant now -- the president's name won't be on the ballot again -- poll numbers like these may have some practical effects. Indeed, consider the larger context: Obama has strong public backing; polls show broad support for his agenda and ideas proposed in the fiscal talks; Democratic popularity is improving; and Republicans are growing less popular as time goes on.
At a minimum, this should give the president renewed confidence when negotiating with Congress -- the polls strengthen his hand -- and discourage excessive concessions to his disliked and distrusted rivals.
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If only he could resist the urge to give away the store!
You can't complain you should have known and I don't say that in a bad way. From a policy standpoint Obama is basically a moderate technocrat. In the end he is way better than one of those free range wacos from the Tea Party
Well, it is only Gallup.
This and five bucks gets a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Popularity will plummet along with the stock market, thats what happened last time the debt ceiling fiasco happened. During the run-up the POTUS was in reasonable shape with approval numbers, then the downgrade that was not his fault nonetheless destroyed his numbers. Republicans remember this...
Unfortunately, it seems as though the GOP is not particularly concerned with positions that regular folks/voters approve of. Their rhetoric, in those few instances where they try to persuade, is full of suggestions that some people (but definitely not rich people) will necessarily go through difficult times in order to help the country. So it matters not whether the GOP believes the polls; they just do not care what We the People think.
I hope that the GOP's popularity will continue to plummet, that they will be blamed for any difficulties in the economy as a result of going over the fiscal whatchamacallit, and that they will be voted out of every office in the land ASAP. (I am a very hope-filled person.) (When I am not a cynic.)
Over the cliff, please Mr. President.
Then come back on Jan 1st and pass tax cuts for 98% of the people.