Poll Analysis: Fall In Obama Approval Fueled Entirely By Republicans
A new polling analysis from Gallup shows a very interesting piece of data within the slight decline of President Obama's approval rating, down from its 68% honeymoon rating when he took office, to 63% now. Not only is the dip fueled solely by a fall in Republican support -- in fact, his ratings have gone up slightly among everyone else.
Between the polling sample from January 21-25, compared to February 9-15, Obama's ratings went from 90% to 94% among self-identified liberal Democrats, from 87% to 88% among moderate Dems, from 80% to 84% with conservative Dems, and from 47% to 50% among independents. On the other hand, his approval fell from 53% to 47% moderate Republicans, with a plummet of 36% down to 22% with conservative Republicans.
Obama's ratings are still very strong, and it appears the dip in his ratings is coming from people who were unlikely to have approved of him in the first place, but for the honeymoon factor. Everyone else, on the other hand, is either staying the same or approving even more.


















So much for the dead skunk called bipartisanship.
February 23, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
yeah really, the 'dead skunk' that is the GOP version of bipartisanship.
February 23, 2009 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
As had become obvious during the presidential election (and even before that), Republicans have become highly highly radicalized. Conservative, they are not. Certainly they are now too radical for them to move towards bipartisanship. I believe its only a matter of time before they self-refine to a "weapons-grade" radical instability, chain-react, and spontaneously implode. I suspect we are witnessing such an implosion in progress, its just happening in slow-motion. My main concern is that they not take the country down with them.
February 23, 2009 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of which, Hendrik Hertzberg had a very nice piece in the February 23 New Yorker on that very subject. I especially liked his concluding paragraph:
We shall overcome, guys.
February 23, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad Republicans don't like him - that means he's doing the damn thing.
February 23, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
How "insightful"... :) At least people aren't buying into Senator Shelby's ridiculous acquisition questioning Obama's citizenship.
http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/02/youre-really-still-questioning-obamas-citizenship-senator-shelby.html
February 23, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why thank you.
I rather think you don't quite get it, ("Insightful") but that's alright. I know what I mean and lots of other people (who are also hip hop fans) will get it.
;)
February 23, 2009 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
And why would it matter what conservative Republicans thought of him anyway? they didnt vote for him and many wish for him to 'fail', as echoed by their leader, Rush Limbaugh. Imagine that, support has decreased with Republicans. sheesh, who needed a survey to see that. duh.
February 23, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
which means that the national Repub party tightens & secures its grip on that tiny little diminishing red electorate in the deep south. Congrats, Grand Ol classy Party!!
February 23, 2009 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know, some Republicans were actually hopeful he was going to make Bush tax cuts permanent, not touch their sacred cows like stem cell research, do a "stimulus" based on further reducing wealthy people's taxes, etc.
That crazy Michael Gerson of the W.Post wrote an article early on about how Obama should leave everything as it was, not Overreach. Some were really telling themselves this. No surprise they're glum!
February 23, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tonight's headline on Fox: "OBAMA SUPPORT AMONG REAL AMERICANS NOSEDIVES!"
February 23, 2009 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
And, cnn, and abc, and cbs, and every other cable "news" outlet. On msnbc, they will have an "analysis" as to why his approval ratings are "tanking." Pathetic.
February 23, 2009 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. Among the Americans that really matter. Wasila Main Street and all that crap.
February 23, 2009 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Except that there's no Main street in Wasilla. It's more like a series of Generica strip malls. Like so much of the GOP's base message even Sarah Palin's "small town values" aren't what they have been romanticized to be.
February 23, 2009 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Except that there's no Main street in Wasilla. It's more like a series of Generica strip malls."
Just to be clear, as you know, that line is the Moose Queen's quote, not mine, from October 2, 2008. Guess "strip malls" did not contribute to the phony imagery that she wanted to conjure that day.
"Like so much of the GOP's base message even Sarah Palin's "small town values" aren't what they have been romanticized to be."
Romanticized, ah yes! Like the Ballad of Judd Gregg, that ole-time independent hand from up New Hampshire way who showed them city slickers in Washington, D.C. something about good ole-fashioned vah-yues, why yessiree! They thought they could take a good man like that and turn him into some kind of Secretary of Commerce with a big city office, but Ole Judd showed 'em up right proper.
February 23, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Headline on Politico this morning. Needless to say, the "analysis" never mentioned the drop was solely due to Republicans.
February 23, 2009 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is it not astounding that a 63% approval rating can be colored negatively?!? He's got more then double the popularity of w and 3 times the popularity of Dick Cheney.
The free pass remains. It goes to the Republicans as it always has.
February 23, 2009 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Given these numbers, if Glenn Beck's hoped for Bubba-driven civil war does become reality, it will be over quicker than the invasion of Grenada.
February 23, 2009 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
When the other guy spits on your outstretched hand, it's time to say, "fuck you, too."
February 23, 2009 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever happened to extend your other hand or turn the other cheek. Not very Christian of you.
In all seriousness, where obama's tactics are playing, as evidenced by the poll, is in the middle. That's what's important. Also, remember dems and "independents" far outnumber republicans now, so improvements in those groups are far more important. Republicans can spit all day long. Just wipe it off and keep on doing what you are doing. Eventually, they will run out of spit and life as a viable party. That's what's important.
February 23, 2009 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Obama is cementing his reputation as the representative of the center (and in the process, helping solidify the center's move to the left). While I think some of the tactical criticisms of Obama have merit, the overall political strategy is playing out as I imagine Obama conceived it.
February 23, 2009 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good observation and valid point on "helping solidify the center's move to the left." It's called baby steps. We've been treated with a flow of complete and utter bullsh*t from 1980 to the present. It's about time that there is a swing of the pendulum back to sanity.
February 23, 2009 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
The reich is really misunderestimating Obama.
February 23, 2009 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's why Obama is the President, and I'm just a bad Christian.
February 23, 2009 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nobody could have predicted that spoiled-toddler wingnuts wouldn't like the grownups being in charge again.
February 23, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yesssss!:D
February 23, 2009 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course there's a drop among republicans! They are praying for him to fail...and that means we all fail. The fact that he might actually clean up this pigsty the Last Occupant left us gives them the cold shivers and makes Little Bobby Jindal jump up and down in a snit.
Who cares what they think? We outnumber them.
February 23, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is running his administration like he ran his campaign, and the GOP are running the opposition like McCain ran his campaign. McCain was all about "winning" the day, the hour, the minute - that's what the Republican opposition is doing now. The Obama Administration is like his campaign, looking at a broad strategic picture.
Right now there is a Republican purity test going on, with moderate Republican politicians being targeted - not seeming to realize that the voters who voted said politicians in were likely moderates themselves. The more hard Right candidates the pure Republicans run, the more moderates and independents will side with the Obama Administration. With Obama staking out the moderate middle, it forces the GOP to attack from the hard right.
The GOP's problem is that they're trying to make their comeback in one election cycle. There is no leadership that is bigger than the actors in the party now - meaning guys like Boehner, Cantor, McConnell and the like push for a ill advised quick comeback to save their own political hides, risking the viability of the Party as a whole for the long haul if they fail.
They should be working with Obama, licking their wounds and planning their comeback for 2014 and then the big play for 2016 Presidential election.
The problem is there is no leadership, Bush and Cheney ran the GOP Senate and GOP House, so with Bush and Cheney out of the picture, now folks are trying to step up and fill the void with no experience in leadership for the past eight years.
February 23, 2009 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, did you change your name or are you borrowing Jonze's avatar?
February 23, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Either way, great comment.
February 23, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans are to common sense what the Stanford Financial Group are to fiscal responsibility.
February 23, 2009 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's "Sir" Stanford Financial Group to you.
February 23, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
They will do whatever it takes for them to think they are relevant. More and more they are becoming less and less. With Boner, Cantor, Shelby, Bunning, McConnell and other Republicans in the House and Senate who are over caffeinated, it won't be long before they really go off the rails.
February 23, 2009 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fewer, and fewer Americans self-identify as Republican, but I bet that even fewer self-identify with the GOP’s Rush Limbaugh-style of uncivil, rude and crude conservatism.
February 23, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm beginning to think that the Republican members of Congress are just now figuring out how much the ground has shifted beneath them. Up until recently they have been behaving as if the last election didn't happen, and it has taken them this long to begin to listen to the noise they're generating.
Morons such as Senator Shelby have always made the moronic statements like the one questioning the President's citizenship, but up until the last election it was just background noise. The media was more focused on the White House and the President, so Senator Shelby could fly under the radar.
Now that the GOP is such a decided minority, and that minority consists of the most conservative members of the party, the more outrageous remarks are getting more play. Senator Shelby is now front and center, and whatever leadership is left in the GOP is slow to react.
I just wonder how long it will take the party to realize that they are becoming more and more irrelevant, and what they will do to correct the situation.
February 23, 2009 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking of a line from Macbeth that could just as well describe the current Republican party:
February 23, 2009 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did anyone really think this country was going to have bipartisanship after Obama got elected, keep in mind there are still plenty of people who didn't vote for him. It's not a big surprise that many people are not happy with Obama, he really hasn't done anything too great to receive praise, he hasn't had enough time.
February 23, 2009 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I live in a Republican bastion of panic and denial(Orange County CA.).They have really taken the gloves off with Obama.There never was any "honeymoon" or spirit of bipartisanship.They just wanted Obama to do things that they think will work. Lower taxes, less government,etc. etc. blah blah!.They have no ideas and ,the only thing they have left ,is to try and tear the guy who does.The fanciful tales of woe and destruction being predicted by the Repugs on my local paper is laughable. Their complete disregard for any of the facts that led us to this place in history is mind numbing,(a republican wilderness survival trait).Let them sit at thier donut shops,swatting mosquitos ,from green ,foreclosed , West Nile virus, neighbors pools , and pontificate"See this is what happens when a democrat is in charge".I tried being nice for the last month. I'm over it.Now I just tell them to "STFU the grown ups are trying to talk".We have work to do.
February 23, 2009 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel for you. It really is hell living behind the orange curtain.
February 23, 2009 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I wasn't freezing my ass off here in the heart of Helms country today, I'd sympathize too.
February 23, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm freezing my ass off in specter country right now. I lived in oc and accross the border in va from nc. I can safely say, without a doubt, that oc is the most insane and devoid of reality place that I have ever experienced. Far worse than helms country. It's kind of creepy how unbelievable the people are behind the orange curtain. It's like the stepford wives on steroids or something. Truly bizarre.
February 23, 2009 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
To restate the painfully obvious, it is startling how they cut taxes and ran the budget into the ground and now they think the way forward is to cut more taxes. As there are few people feeling comfortable making so very little sense (with notable exceptions like McCain), the party is having trouble holding up its numbers nationally.
February 23, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is ironic that the GOP used the GWOT to maintain their hold on us and are powerless now that the present crisis has displaced theirs.
February 23, 2009 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Except that there's no Main street in Wasilla. It's more like a series of Generica strip malls."
Just to be clear, as you know, that line is the Moose Queen's quote, not mine, from October 2, 2008. Guess "strip malls" did not contribute to the phony imagery that she wanted to conjure that day.
"Like so much of the GOP's base message even Sarah Palin's "small town values" aren't what they have been romanticized to be."
Romanticized, ah yes! Like the Ballad of Judd Gregg, that ole-time independent hand from up New Hampshire way who showed them city slickers in Washington, D.C. something about good ole-fashioned vah-yues, why yessiree! They thought they could take a good man like that and turn him into some kind of Secretary of Commerce with a big city office, but Ole Judd showed 'em up right proper.
m65 kamagra
June 6, 2010 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink