President Obama is seeing further erosion in his approval rating nationwide, and the decrease in support is widespread. The latest poll from Pew Research Center shows 39 percent of Americans approve of the president, while a whopping 56 percent disapprove.
President Obama once arrogantly remarked that he didn’t want his presidency to resemble the presidency of Bill Clinton, because he was inconsequential. Obama commented that he would rather have a presidency that resembled the tenure of Ronald Reagan, because he “fundamentally transformed” and shaped American politics for the decades that would follow.
Unfortunately, for him, he is headed for history book chapters that will write his presidency resembled neither successful, popular president. “The latest national poll by the Pew Research Center, conducted Oct. 30-Nov. 6 among 2,003 adults, finds that Obama’s second-term job ratings have followed a similar downward trajectory as those of his predecessor, George W. Bush,” Pew stated.
Ironically, as Pew Research noted, his presidency currently resembles his predecessor, whom he continued to relentlessly blame for his own failures throughout the 2012 presidential campaign.
In 4 out of 5 issues the survey focused on, the Obama approval rating is underwater, save for terrorism, where 51 percent approve and 44 percent disapprove. Obama’s approval ratings on the economy have been more negative than positive for more than 4 years, which is not just a Pew finding, but the current measurement — 31 percent — is the worst ever measured during his presidency.
Looking ahead to some of the battleground races in 2014, the presidents approval in the Midwest is more in line with his approval in the South, more so than any other part of the country, with just 29 percent approving and 65 percent disapproving. For comparison, the president’s approval in the South is only 24 percent, with 71 percent disapproving.
For the president or his party to be competitive in the 2014 House and Senate races, the president’s approval rating in the Midwest must be closer to the Northeast than the South, though shockingly, that wouldn’t be must better either. The Northeast gives the president the largest share of nationwide support, but Obama can only muster 42 percent approval in the Pew Research survey, with 54 percent still disapproving.
In the West, which we must remember encompasses populated California, just 32 percent approve of President Obama, and 63 percent disapprove. At this point, there isn’t a region in the country President Obama would find an overwhelming welcome, which may help to explain why McAuliffe was polling far better than his eked-by performance.
Rest assure, other Democrats in red and battleground states are watching closely. Despite pundit and talking head claims, Democrats are and should be very concerned about this trend continuing because, even more so than the Generic Congressional Ballot, presidential approval rating is the most liable indicator of the in-party’s midterm woes.
Just prior to the 2010 midterm election, public polling Obama approval rating measurements were hovering in the low-to-mid 40s, while many Generic Ballots were actually showing the Democrats with a 1 – 3-point lead. We all know how that worked out.
