Posted on 04/01/2010 5:45:15 PM PDT by jazusamo
President Obama and congressional Democrats face an uphill climb to reclaim the support of independent voters who vaulted them to the White House and huge majorities in Congress in 2008.
At the end of the bitter, intensely partisan battle to pass Mr. Obama's health care overhaul plan, independent voters, once captivated by hopeful campaign promises, are feeling burned and appear eager to oust Democrats in November's midterm elections.
"There is an overall sense of frustration that no one is listening," pollster Scott Rasmussen said about a problem that has plagued the political party in power for decades.
Mr. Rasmussen said the more pressing issue for Democrats is that swing voters are not just anxious about health care; they're also angry about the stimulus package and auto industry bailouts.
"It is gathering steam in the sense that the longer the frustration goes unanswered, the more it grows," said the founder and president of Rasmussen Reports.
In 2008, Mr. Obama's hope and change messages seemed to win over independents, and he captured about 52 percent of the independent vote in the election that year.
Self-identified independents continued to back Mr. Obama through June, with about 60 percent saying they approved of his job performance. But as the year wore on and the health care battle gained steam, their approval of the president plummeted and hardened in the low 40s, according to Quinnipiac University polls.
The president's approval ratings have not rebounded since the health care vote, but the latest Quinnipiac poll shows some positive movement for Mr. Obama. The percentage of independents who disapprove of Mr. Obama's job performance has dropped nine points, from 53 percent to 44 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
So that “Hope and Change” missed a spot?
“Mr. Carville predicted that Republicans will net about 25 House seats and six or seven Senate seats - not enough to give them control of either chamber, but enough to drop Democrats’ margins dramatically. “
If this is what Carville is saying publicly, a disaster is in store for the Dems, including a Republic Congress.
I just hope the Republicans don’t snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.
I have a feeling we are about to see the biggest sweep from office in the history of this nation. People (me included) are pi$$ed!!!!
A lot of folks were angry at Bush but the economy, for the most part, was solid. Now, it's not and Obama is pushing ahead with Obamunism even as he further kills the economy. IOW, the anger is because they've seen the promises become lies and realize they've been had.
The real question is if the anger will last all the way til November. I worry that there may be anger fatigue by then.
Well said and add to that that Zer0 is adding trillions to the deficit. I personally don’t think it’s going away by November but I’m no expert.
I’m not raging angry anymore—mostly depressed by what’s happening to America. But I basically live for the chance to draw blood in November (figuratively, of course). I’ll crawl out of an ICU to vote if necessary. For the first time in my life I’m going to volunteer to help the Republicans get out the vote.
I don't think that the importance of the November election can be overemphasized. It's do or die.
In a multiple pronged attack Obama and Company in the last few days have done the following especially before the massive tea party rallyes on 4/15...
Tried to tie us to the Militias, and paint us as extremist.
Tried to negate Sarah Palin and Drill baby Drill. ans these are just two....
My guess is they got some internals on Palin vs. Obama numbers and how solid the tea party movement is and how motiviated they are and $h!+ing their pants....
As long as Pelosi, Reid, Franks, and others of their ilk are swept out, I’ll be very happy. I want to see someone wipe that smirk off her face.
Amen. It is my greatest fear that even handed to them, the GOP will manage to screw this up.
The smirk is that she’s pulled so tight (face lift)!!! Actually I’d like to see her stay and be a common house democrat...Best revenge...
Me too---had to take a break and a respite. HealthCare ramrod was affecting many of our psyches out here. But will "reload" and be back in the fight when the winds start blowing in again!
As long as there is economic fatigue, there won’t be anger fatigue. The gov’t may try to spin a recovery where there isn’t one, but employment is a hard thing to fake. Jon Stewart won’t even be able to make crushing unemployment cool and funny.
If that is what Carville thinks the internal polling must be close to twice that? IIRC we need something like 47 seats in the house to gain control and if we can do that it would end this lunacy in short order.
That's because both side are entrenched. Term limits are a sure cure for this.
47? I bet it is closer to 100. No blue dog will survive. Any district within 5 pts is gone and any within 10 pts is in play
I agree, you stated it well. Obama doesn’t realize the majority of people in this country don’t appreciate Chicago style thug politics, for a man his age he is naive when it comes to the country.
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