Wednesday, June 18, 2014

What New Poll Numbers Mean For Obama, Dems

The new NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll out today is probably the most devastating poll yet for President Obama and the Democrats.
And we include the Democrats here because when people are unhappy with a president (and they are) and they're facing midterm elections (and they are) then, they turn to the other party -- not the party of the president. And they likely will.
Indeed, one of the pollsters concluded: "The cumulative impact of these [poll numbers and Obama missteps] are bending and bowing the presidency in a way that historically has meant a difficult election" for the president's party. "It's going to be a very good Republican year."
Still, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Let's go back to the numbers:

  • The president's overall approval rating is at a new low, 41%. This puts him in George W. Bush territory - at the end of Bush's presidency. 
  • A whopping 54% of those polled say they no longer feel the president "is able to lead the country and get the job done."
  • The president's foreign policy disapproval number is way high, 57%.
  • Three out of four Americans now believe the country is on the wrong track.
  • Young people have turned against the president. Those in the 18 to 34 age group once supported Obama by 60/40. Now, that's totally reversed. Only 41% of this group approve of the job he is doing.
  • Barely half the people feel Obama is even competent. This is actually lower than George W. Bush's competency low of 53%.
  • On the controversial Bergdahl prisoner swap only 30% felt Obama cut a good deal. Not even half the Democrats (only 46%) thought this was a good deal. 
  • The share of Hispanics who see Mr. Obama favorably and approve of his job performance has dropped from 67% in January 2013 to 44% in the latest poll.            

These are not good numbers for the president or his party.
And that's reflected in the suspicions of Hillary Clinton that come through in this latest poll. In fact, there is significant resistance to Hillary Clinton. Most people do not feel she is honest and trustworthy. Only 38% of the people say she is. Only 40% feel she is easygoing and likable. And only 38% say she shares their positions on the issues. And, roughly as many people are saying they would never support her as those who said they either probably or definitely would. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

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