Raese leads WV Senate race by 7

Really good news from Rasmussen:

Republican John Raese has now opened up a seven-point lead over West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin in perhaps the most improbably close U.S. Senate contest in the country. It’s Raese’s biggest lead yet.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely West Virginia Voters finds Raese with 50% support to Manchin’s 43%. Two percent (2%) like some other candidate in the race, and five percent (5%) are undecided.

The West Virginia race now shifts back from a Toss-Up to Leans Republican in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.

West Virginia is incredibly important as certain partisan hacks are quick to point out:

It makes no sense for the people of West Virginia to send a Democrat to the Senate when they overwhelmingly oppose Obama and his agenda. The 111th Congress is still a serious threat to freedom, and may have more in store for America whatever happens on election day. Cap and Trade has already passed the House and would only require a vote in the Senate to become the law of the land.  Manchin could easily vote for cloture even if he voted against the final bill.  We've certainly seen the supposed moderate Dems pull that stunt in the past.

Beyond the lame duck session, Manchin, as a Democrat and junior Senator, would be under incredible pressure to support the Democratic agenda. No matter how many promises he makes to West Virginia now, the carrots and sticks of Dem leadership have proven to have a powerful hypnotic effect in the past and will again in the future. Moreover, Manchin is unwilling to commit to the repeal of ObamaCare despite the fact the people of West Virginia disapprove of the law in even greater numbers than we see nationally. There is really no reason to send this popular Governor to DC; nothing good can come of it.  Keep him at home.

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Voters don't trust Democrats with much these days

Rasmussen updates its' tracking of public trust on key issues with just 2 weeks to go before the election. The poll of 1000 likely voters showed pretty clearly voters aren't inclined to trust Democrats with much of anything. Here are the numbers:

On the key issue driving voters to the polls this year, voters trust Republicans with handling the economy by 10 points.  Notice too, the issue where voters give Republicans the largest margin, immigration.  No wonder endangered Democrats are quietly befuddled by Obama's more outrageous political positions in this important election season.

Democrats have a slight edge when it comes to the issue of education and government ethics.  This represents something of a drop for Republicans who held a lead on all ten issues in August.  I would guess some of this could be statistical noise, though you certainly have to wonder whether voters missed the Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters scandals.  No doubt they would have been more attuned to the corruption had these scandals involved Republicans, as the national media would have been beating those scandals like a drum.

Still, the overall trend for Democrats is noticeably downward.  Two years ago, before Democrats took control of the White House and gained significant majorities in the House and Senate, voters trusted Democrats over Republicans on all 10 issues.  All this tends to prove Ann Coulter's theory correct:

As a result, for the past four decades, American politics has consisted of Republicans controlling Washington for eight to 14 years -- either from the White House or Capitol Hill -- thus allowing Americans to forget what it was they didn't like about Democrats, whom they then carelessly vote back in. The Democrats immediately remind Americans what they didn't like about Democrats, and their power is revoked at the voters' first possible opportunity. 

That first possible opportunity is a scant two weeks away - revoke away voters.
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What Goes Around Comes Around

Reviews are in on Obama's speech last night and it isn't pretty. Perhaps the most scathing assessment came from Obama's own champion cheerleaders at MSNBC. When you lose Matthews, Olbermann and Fineman Mr President, you've got trouble:

Olbermann: "I don't think he aimed low, I don't think he aimed at all. It's startling."

Howard Fineman: Obama should be acting like a "commander-in-chief."

Matthews: Ludicrous that he keeps saying [Secretary of Energy] Chu has a Nobel prize. "I'll barf if he does it one more time."

Matthews: "A lot of meritocracy, a lot of blue ribbon talk."

 There is a certain poetic justice that the kharmic gods have decided to heap on Obama a disaster that not only exposes his supreme inadequacy but at the same time proves the old adage, "what goes around comes around." The American people were ahead of Matthews and Olbie, however, in tearing back the curtain to see the great wizard was a one trick pony:

Though Obama has yet to reach the historic lows in approval Bush experienced after nearly 8 years, two wars and a financial collapse, the latest Rasmussen Report poll shows him well on his way.  When Bush left office 43% strongly disapproved of his performance.  Obama's latest numbers show him neck in neck with Bush on this count, a full 44% strongly disapprove of his performance:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 24% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-four percent (44%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -20 (see trends).

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Democrats Strongly Approve while 75% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 12% Strongly Approve and 52% Strongly Disapprove.

Bush hit his lowest numbers after he attempted immigration reform which cost him support among his base.  I think we are seeing the cracks in Obama's base but the question remains will they rally to support him or have the rats started to abandon ship never to return.  Time will tell

Voters Still Hate the Health Care Law Democrats Crammed Down their Throats

For the second week in a row, Rasmussen Reports shows support for the repeal of ObamaCare at 58% of likely voters. This report was taken after the White House began yet another public relations appeal to sell the plan to voters.  Do they seriously think that sales pitch number 5784 will do the trick?

The more we find out about the bill Democrats rammed through Congress, the less we like it. Even the cheerleaders at The New York Times are no longer able to deny the harsh reality that the "sweeping promises" of ObamaCare can not be kept:

In some respects, the rules appear to fall short of the sweeping commitments President Obama made while trying to reassure the public in the fight over health legislation.

In issuing the rules, the administration said this was just one goal of the legislation, allowing people to “keep their current coverage if they like it.” It acknowledged that some people, especially those who work at smaller businesses, might face significant changes in the terms of their coverage, and it said they should be able to “reap the benefits of additional consumer protections.”

Oh so we may not actually get to keep our current plan if we like it after all.  Who knew?  Presuming the "benefits of additional consumer protections" are not enough to finally convince us to love the law, Democrats appear poised to "reap the benefits" come November.

Related: Make of This What You Will
More at Memeorandum

Obama Approval Hits Another New Low

Rasmussen has Obama at a historic low in his 16 month Presidency.  Obama currently has a 42% approval with 56% disapproving.  Obama's passion index is at a -20, reflecting a mere 24% who strongly approve while with 44% strongly disapprove.  He appears to be on a downward trend again:

Americans appear to have found Obama wanting as a leader and have all but abandoned thoughts a political newcomer could bring hope and change to Washington:

Forty-four percent (44%) say the president is doing a good or excellent job on national security issues while 39% give him such positive marks on the economy. See other measures of the president’s performance at Obama By the Numbers. Thirty-four percent (34%) say the president is doing a good job handling the Gulf oil spill while 33% give him poor grades on that topic.

Most Americans have “come to believe that the political system is broken, that most politicians are corrupt, and that neither major political party has the answers,” observes Scott Rasmussen. Just 27% believe Congress knows what it’s doing when it comes to the economy and 41% say that a group of people randomly selected from the phone book would do a better job than the current Congress. In his new book, Scott adds, “Some of us are ready to give up and some of us are ready to scream a little louder. But all of us believe we can do better.”

While most of us knew Obama was just another corrupt politician, it is high time the rest of the electorate wakes up and smells the coffee.   The question remains what exactly set Obama's numbers on a downward trajectory once again.  Ed Morrissey points out the poll doesn't suggest the public is quite ready to declare the Gulf oil spill Obama's Katrina, at least not yet anyway.  Though Obama may get a bump after he finally holds another presser Thursday hoping to contain the damage on the Gulf, the bump isn't likely to last.  His base is not with him on the decision to continue to allow more drilling and the disaster in the Gulf has no apparent end in sight.

Recent predictions that the economy may hit yet another downturn spell disaster for this President.  The internals  for this Rasmussen poll show a mere 26% trust Obama on an economic crisis while 27% trust Congress to handle an economic crisis.  Another economic crisis will leave Obama and his Democratic Congress with few alternatives for intervention after their stimulus proved such a failure.  The combination of the Gulf oil spill along with projected downturns for the economy may leave Obama hoping for approvals Bush experienced post-Katrina.

Rasmussen: 63% now oppose health care legislation

The latest survey shows a significant jump in favor of repealing the health care law

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of U.S. voters now favor repeal of the plan passed by congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Obama in March.

Prior to today, weekly polling had shown support for repeal ranging from 54% to 58%.
Currently, just 32% oppose repeal.

The new findings include 46% who Strongly Favor repeal of the health care bill and 25% who Strongly Oppose it.

If Republican candidates are looking for a position to endear them to conservative and swing voters alike, promising to be a vote in favor of repeal wold be the ticket.  Clearly the Obama/Pelosi prediction that voters would like the health care law once they found out what was in it is failing, just like their agenda.

58% Support Repeal of Health Care - We need to make that happen

Rasmussen has the latest polling on health care showing 58% support repeal, including 50% who strongly support repeal.   Those opposing repeal of the legislation are losing steam with 38% opposing appeal, down from 42% in the previous two weeks.  Despite widespread support for repeal the poll shows little optimism the bill will be repealed:

But only 38% of voters think it is even somewhat likely that the health care bill will be repealed. Fifty-one percent (51%) see repeal as unlikely, Those figures include 11% who say it’s very likely to be repealed and 18% who say repeal is not at all likely.

Still, 52% believe the health care plan will be bad for the country. Thirty-nine percent (39%) think it will be good for the country, and one percent (1%) more say it will have no impact. These numbers have changed little since the March 21 House vote to pass the health care bill.

 So much for health care growing in popularity when people find out what is in it.  I am not surprised people are pessimistic about chances for the bill to be repealed.  Repeal poses many challenges including the necessity for Republicans to regain control of the House, Senate and Presidency as it is highly unlikely this President would sign legislation repealing the bill.  Still I think it is certainly not impossible with the pendulum swinging clearly in the Republican direction.  We also have the court cases which will eventually make their way to the Supreme Court.  Public opinion and a very loud message sent by voters in November may be too loud for the tone-deaf ears in Washington to ignore.  The greatest factor weighing in favor of opposition, in my opinion, is the opposition from the public.  So long as the public stays engaged, a fact that seems to be supported by this poll, we have a fighting chance.
(Note:  Ed Morrissey just posted a great interview with Ted Cruz, former Solicitor General of Texas explaining what the courts can and can't do to repeal ObamaCare.  Ultimately, it is WE THE PEOPLE, who will have the greatest impact on repealing the law.  The interview is very informative, go take a look)

Other polling news, it looks like game over in the Rubio/Crist race for the GOP nomination in Florida.  Ed Morrissey points to the recent debate between the two on Fox News Sunday as the nail in the coffin for Crist.

Not so much a poll but a sign of the times, hand wringing from The New York Times over the potential for a Republican rout a la 1994 looming for Democrats in 2010.  Leave it to the Times to find the ray of hope:

Yet Democrats have many reasons to compare the two elections and find hope. The flip side to what Mr. Gingrich said is that Democrats, remembering 1994, will not be surprised this time. They have aggressively warned incumbents against being overly confident, pressing them to raise money now and begin attacking prospective opponents.

“It is no shock that this is going to be a hard cycle,” said Jon Vogel, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “People didn’t know that until late 1994; they ended their campaigns with money in the bank.”

The Democrats' war chests are indeed loaded and they will use their vast stores of money to fight losing power.  While this may seem a huge plus for Democrats, it is not one that is too difficult to overcome.  Find a candidate and offer your support.  Monetary donations are a great way to get involved but if money is tight, lend a hand to help with the campaign.  This is not an election we can afford to sit out and wait or others to deliver the results..

Update:  Adrienne at Potluck points out RightKlik has a list of all candidates and the dates of upcoming elections.  There is much to do before November.

Wildly Popular Health Care Law Has Majority Support for Repeal

H/T: Hot Air
Rasmussen's latest poll, conducted two nights after the health care bill was passed, shows a majority supports repeal of the bill:

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, conducted on the first two nights after the president signed the bill, shows that 55% favor repealing the legislation. Forty-two percent (42%) oppose repeal. Those figures include 46% who Strongly Favor repeal and 35% who Strongly Oppose it.

In terms of Election 2010, 52% say they’d vote for a candidate who favors repeal over one who does not. Forty-one percent (41%) would cast their vote for someone who opposes repeal.

Not surprisingly, Republicans overwhelmingly favor repeal while most Democrats are opposed. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 59% favor repeal, and 35% are against it.

Most senior citizens (59%) also favor repeal. Earlier, voters over 65 had been more opposed to the health care plan than younger adults. Seniors use the health care system more than anyone else. But 58% of those 18 to 29 also support repeal of the plan which requires all Americans to have health insurance.

This ought to put a crimp in the latest efforts to show Americans are slowly warming up to health care legislation. The big surprise here is the sudden awakening of the 18 to 29 age group. Obama never mentioned the mandate when I saw him address a group of college students in Pennsylvania two weeks ago. He did, however, emphasize they would be able to stay on their parents plan until they were 26, which was greeted with enthusiasm. Too bad they left that part out of the bill. Though that provision is likely to be fixed as it was included in reconciliation, Democrats left out another major promise to cover children with preexisting conditions. Read the bill much Democrats? It seems the answer to that question is a resounding, HELL NO!

Democrats vulnerable in the coming midterm elections must take a moment's pause when they hear the senior citizens who always come out to vote support repeal by 59% as do 59% of independent voters. Jennifer Rubin thinks this puts taking the Senate on the table:

but it’s no longer inconceivable that the Senate could flip, leaving the remaining Democrats (especially those up for re-election in 2012) quaking. Republicans have excellent to good shots at picking up Pennsylvania, Delaware, Colorado, Arkansas, North Dakota, Nevada, and Illinois. Throw in Wisconsin (if former governor Tommy Thompson runs) and California as competitive states, and you see a pathway to a GOP Senate takeover.

Will remaining Democrats who survive the midterms continue to ignore the will of the voters? Perhaps we might find those survivors amenable to overriding a presidential veto to repeal the bill.

More on this at Memeorandum

Rasmussen on Health Care

A full 57% believe ObamaCare will hurt the economy according to the latest Rasmussen Survey.  Would that this were the worst of the news for ObamaCare, it seems that voters distrust nearly every aspect of the proposal:

• Two-out-of-three voters (66%) also believe the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats is likely to increase the federal deficit. That’s up six points from late November and comparable to findings just after the contentious August congressional recess. 
• Underlying this concern is a lack of trust in the government numbers. Eighty-one percent (81%) believe it is at least somewhat likely that the health care reform plan will cost more than official estimates.
• Seventy-eight percent (78%) also believe it is at least somewhat likely that taxes will have to be raised on the middle class to cover the cost of health care reform. 
• 59% of voters think cost is the greatest issue in health care.  There is a disparity in opinion amongst the political class and mainstream voters as to the major issues in health care.  60% of the political class believes universal coverage is the main problem while 61% of mainstream believe cost is the biggest problem.
• Ninety-three percent (93%) of Republicans and 71% of unaffiliated voters say the health plan being considered by Congress is likely to increase the federal budget deficit.
• Sixty percent (60%) of voters believe Democrats should change the bill to win support from a reasonable number of Republicans. Only 31% believe Democrats should go ahead and pass the bill without Republican support.

There seems to be a bipartisan belief that costs will exceed government projections. Ed Morrissey elaborates:

Hardly anyone believes the cost estimates. When asked whether the bill would exceed its cost estimates, 93% of Republicans, 70% of Democrats, and 80% of independents thought it at least somewhat likely — with 88% of Republicans and 73% of independents calling it “very likely.” Only 20% of Democrats thought it unlikely. Again, this looks like a big failure of the Obama administration’s efforts to sell the package as a cost containment program.

 When the vast majority of Democrats find the cost estimates suspect, it is safe to say this should not be the focus of any health care sales pitch.  There are far too many years of history disproving the notion that government programs live within their means.  That is a task left for mere mortals, though some politicians seem to not know the limits of their political capital.  President Obama has spent his and then some.

H/T:Hot Air

Not a lot of Love in Liberland These Days

Alan Colmes is having himself what little fun there must be left to have if you live in "Liberaland."  Colmes thinks it is ever so ironic that conservatives are not willing to give Obama a little sugar because his latest Gallup poll shows a respectable 53% approval.  Sadly for Colmes, Gallup is polling adults rather than likely voters over a weekend, all of which points to a poll more likely to lean towards Democrats than not.  Gallup also presents the rosiest approval of any recent poll as well.

Colmes notes the right loves to bash Obama when his polls dip below 50%.  That was certainly true in the past.  Now it such a common occurrence it barely merits a mention.  Obama first dipped below 50 in the Rasmussen daily tracking poll way back in June:

Interestingly enough Obama dipped below 50 on June 30th for the first time.  I don't believe it was a coincidence Obama dropped below 50 among likely voters on that date and has gone down hill ever since.
Any theories out there?
Via Memeorandum

Roger Ebert Should Stick to Movie Reviews

Because he clearly doesn't get politics or show an inkling of understand what voters in Massachusetts were saying with their vote. Here's Ebert's twitter review:

Massachusetts to Teddy: "F—k you."

I guess he thought a G rating would kill the box receipts.  As he occasionally does in his movie reviews, Ebert missed the message.  The voters may have been saying F' you but they were intending to send the message to those who locked themselves in the Senate until Christmas eve while they bribed and coerced their way to passing a vote on a *really* unpopular bill.  Rasmussen clarifies from his exit poll results:

Health care has been a huge issue in this election. Fifty-two percent (52%) of Brown voters say it was the most important issue in determining their vote. Sixty-three percent (63%) of Coakley voters say health care was the top issue:

• · 78% of Brown voters Strongly Oppose the health care legislation before Congress.
• · 52% of Coakley supporters Strongly Favor the health care plan. Another 41% Somewhat Favor the legislation.
• · 61% of Brown voters say deficit reduction is more important than health care reform.
• · 46% of Coakley voters say health care legislation more important than deficit reduction.
• · 86% of Coakley voters say it’s better to pass the bill before Congress rather than nothing at all.
• · 88% of Brown voters say it’s better to pass nothing at all.

 So clearly the message was don't spend another trillion of our hard earned dollars on garbage legislation we've been trying to tell you through the polls we don't want.  Voters also intended to send the message the Democrats had better stop pretending they were interested in the middle class.  Voters in the  middle income range (40,000 - 100,000) went with Brown.  Coakley led among the poor and the rich.

Congress might want to consider listening to the moderates they've been hemorrhaging all year instead of calling everyone who disagreed with their agenda tea baggers and racists.  Brown led by 13 points among self described moderates and captured 22% of the Democratic vote.   The voters were tired of Congress saying, well, for lack of a more artful description F'' you.

Fear and Loathing in Taxachusetts

John Fund of the Wall Street Journal is dreaming of a GOP upset in Taxachessets.  Though it still is a bit of a climb he could just get his wish.   The latest Rasmussen poll shows GOP candidate Scott Brown within 9 points of Kennedy-anointed candidate Martha Coakley.  This news must surely have sent some fear and loathing to Democrats banking on a Coakley win in the upcoming special election to replace the late Senator Kennedy's seat in the Senate on January 19.

Here is an interview of Brown by CNBC's Larry Kudlow explaining why this vote is so important; hint electing Brown could stop ObamaCare:



Rasmussen's poll shows some real strengths for Brown leading into the last two weeks before the special election:

Twenty-one percent (21%) of those likely to vote in the special election have a very favorable opinion of Coakley, while 22% have a Very Unfavorable view.

For Brown, the numbers are 25% very favorable and 5% very unfavorable.

Special elections are typically decided by who shows up to vote and it is clear from the data that Brown’s supporters are more enthusiastic. In fact, among those who are absolutely certain they will vote, Brown pulls to within two points of Coakley. That suggests a very low turnout will help the Republican and a higher turnout is better for the Democrat.

In 2006, Massachusetts implemented its own statewide version of health care reform which has been cited as a model for the national plan. But just 32% of the state’s voters consider that reform a success. Thirty-six percent (36%) consider the plan a failure, and another 32% are not sure.

Despite the creation of a statewide health plan in part to address rising costs, most Massachusetts voters (54%) say cost is still the biggest problem with health care. Twenty-four percent (24%) cite a lack of universal coverage, while 11% say it’s the quality of care. Just three percent (3%) complain of the inconvenience of scheduling.

Another strong point for Brown is found in his 44 point lead among Independent voters.   Professor Jacobson, who has been covering this race extensively, has been sensing some problems for Coakley:

This is better than I expected for Brown. Coakley has been a statewide figure for years, and has much better name recognition, SEIU and other union support, and the Massachusetts Democratic machine behind her. Obama won the state by over 20%, and Coakley should have had at least a mid-teens lead at this point.

But as I have noted, Coakley's tactic of acting like the election already is over may be backfiring. While Brown was hitting the pavement the past three weeks, Coakley took a six day vacation. Wrong message. Coakley is ducking a one-on-one debate with Brown. Wrong message.

I sensed Coakley was in trouble when her campaign recently overstated the strength of her fundraising, making it seem as if she had far outraised Brown post-primary. It appears that most of Coakley's fundraising strength was pre-primary, when she used the abortion issue to rally the liberal base to contribute. Coakley then went back on her promise not to vote for the Senate health bill if it contained abortion restrictions.

This is still going to be tough, but electing a Republican to replace Ted Kennedy would send such shockwaves to Democrats in Congress that the battle is well worth the effort.  Consider the Karmic justice after Democrats turned Benedict Arlen, counted their way to seating Al Franken and then changed the rules in Massachusetts just so they could ram ObamaCare through without negotiating with Republicans.

Now is the time to click your Ruby Slippers and make some magic in Massachusetts.  Donate to Scott Brown; any amount will help.   Support him on Facebook, he posts there frequently and offers other ways to get involved.  This is the election to step up and get involved, the stakes are high but the reward would be massive.

Shooting the Messenger

Democrats are not happy with Obama's favorability numbers, better blame the pollster:

Nothing, however, sets off liberal teeth gnashing more than Rasmussen’s daily presidential tracking polls, which throughout the year have consistently placed Obama’s approval numbers around 5 percentage points lower than other polling outfits.

Silly Democrats, Rasmussen polls likely voters which is why 2010 is going to be a year the tide is really turned back and graphs like the one above will be remembered as a warning shot.  Democrats seem to prefer ignoring the warning shot and opt to shoot the messenger instead.  Good thinking.

H/T: Instapundit

Fresh Off the Beach and Without a Tie Obama Assures "We Will Not Rest" UPDATED - Is He Losing the Times?

Obama's "likely" remarks on the Christmas attack on Northwest Airlines don't exactly inspire confidence. It's too bad his vacation in the multi-million dollar Hawaiian resort had to be interrupted to make a statement about an act of terror. There is not much news in this speech other than he gave it, but for those interested here is the clip:




Via Memeorandum
Rasmussen: 79% think another terrorist attack likely within the year Not to worry folks, Obama will not rest and is ordering reviews.

UPDATE
Ann Althouse wonders if he is losing the New York Times:

Analyzing this article in the Times which opens with this preposterous paragraph:

 President Obama emerged from Hawaiian seclusion on Monday to try to quell gathering criticism of his administration’s handling of the thwarted Christmas Day bombing of an American airliner as a branch of Al Qaeda claimed responsibility.

Althouse writes:

 You will not rest? But you are in Hawaii. And you didn't even put on a tie.... You are resting. And you were resting when this happened.
Is he losing the NYT?!

 In my opinion it is too much to hope for the Times has turned on Obama but perhaps Althouse is correct at least in this instance.  Reading a bit further in the article, I find this:

Pictures of passengers enduring tougher security screening at the airport were juxtaposed against images of the president soaking in the sun and surf of this tropical getaway.

Next we have "the governing is hard" lament from unnamed officials:

The episode has rejuvenated a debate that began after the 2001 attacks over the proper balance between security and privacy. The government has spent the last several years cutting the size of the watch list, after repeated criticism that too many people were being questioned at border crossings or checkpoints. Now it may be asked to expand it again.

“You are second-guessed one day and criticized on another,” said one Transportation Security Administration official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

 It is far easier to give a speech in 2004 opposing the war on terror followed by a protracted run for President with a few occasional "present' votes in the Senate.  Democrats spent years attacking Bush and Republicans over the Patriot Act but find themselves sniping at each other when tasked with renewing some provisions that are scheduled to expire this year.   These same folks have absolutely no problem placing all our medical records and responsibility for 1/6th of the economy in the hands of the government but when it comes to wiretapping potential terrorists,  somehow that takes government intervention just a bit too far.  Go figure.

Rasmussen Shows Strongest Disapproval Yet

Rasmussen's daily tracking poll has shown the strongest levels of disapproval for President Obama since he has taken office for two days in a row:

The passion index between those who strongly  approve (21%) and those who strongly disapprove (46%)  is now at a negative 21.  Obama's strong approval level is the lowest he has had to date.  Overall 44% at least somewhat approve while 56% at least somewhat disapprove.  The numbers include two days of polling taken during the Senate under cover voting sessions this weekend.  I would expect to see the divide grow over the next few days.

Rasmussen: Specter's Future Not Looking So Bright

This is a beauty:

The turnaround in this poll was found in the match up between Toomey and Sestak.  In all previous Rasmussen polls Toomey was tied with Sestak.   Sestak opted to primary Specter despite the fact Specter was greeted with open arms as his party-switch strengthened the Democratic majority.  Rasmussen notes, the Democratic agenda is not getting the warm reception by Pennsylvanians, however:

While Barack Obama carried Pennsylvania by 11 points over John McCain last November, the health care plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats is as unpopular in the state as it is in much of the country. Forty-four percent (44%) are in favor of it, while 53% are opposed. Those figures include 23% who strongly favor the plan and 41% who strongly oppose it.

Specter might need to bone up on some skills that might help him establish a post-senatorial career.  Repeat after me Arlen:  "Would you like fries with that?"

Rasmussen: There are a lot of Global Warming Skeptics out There

When the administration repeats the mantra of the global warming advocates, "the science is settled," they should be cautioned a majority of Americans are skeptical of that science. According to a new Rasmussen poll 52% of Americans believe there is significant disagreement among scientists on global warming, while just 25% believe there is agreement, 23% are not sure. A majority believe the science has been tainted:

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Americans say it’s at least somewhat likely that some scientists have falsified research data to support their own theories and beliefs about global warming. Thirty-five percent (35%) say it’s Very Likely. Just 26% say it’s not very or not at all likely that some scientists falsified data.

There seems to be a huge disconnect between the White House spokesman Gibbs, the energy Czar Carol Browner and the American public who view this science as corrupt. The skepticism doesn't appear to have come solely from revelations from the CRU emails alone according to Rasmussen:

This skepticism does not appear to be the result of the recent disclosure of e-mails confirming such data falsification as part of the so-called “Climategate” scandal. Just 20% of Americans say they’ve followed news reports about those e-mails Very Closely, while another 29% have followed them Somewhat Closely.

 As the President prepares to fly off to Copenhagen promising to cut emissions by 17% which would require the backing of legislation such as cap and trade, the American people are dubious.  He leaves at a time when the unemployment rate is over 10% and the economy despite protestations otherwise is a shambles.  His trip to Copenhagen which will be capped off by his award of the Nobel Prize serve to reinforce the narrative he is in love with the man in the mirror and is out of touch with the realities facing most Americans.

H/T:  Ed Morrissey be sure to read Ed's excellent analysis on this poll.

Obama Approval Hits New Lows

Rasmussen reports approval for Obama's job performance has fallen to 45% among likely voters while disapproval reaches a new high of 54%. The passion index, meaning the difference between those who strongly approve (27%) and those who strongly disapprove (42%) is a negative 15. Obama's approval among unaffiliated voters is tanking:

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Democrats Strongly Approve while 68% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major political party, just 16% Strongly Approve and 51% Strongly Disapprove[.]

As Ed Morrissey notes at Hot Air, this should sound the alarm bells for Congressional Democrats facing reelection in 2010:

A 45/54 split in the first year in office isn’t exactly the “hope and change” Obama had in mind. The intensity of his opposition has long eclipsed the intensity of his support, but the number among independents should be alarming for Capitol Hill Democrats facing the voters in 2010. A solid majority of independents now stronglydisapprove of Obama, and only a sixth of them strongly approve. Democrats know what that means for a midterm that will serve as a referendum on the President and their legislative agenda.

Approval for Obama continues to remain strong only among young voters according to Rasmussen.  Unfortunately  for Democrats these are not voters who make a strong showing in midterm elections.  

Rasmussen: Support for Health Care Reform Hits New Low

Rasmussen reports the latest in its ongoing tracking of support for the Democrats' health care reform.  Just two days after the Senate voted under the cover of darkness to open debate for the massive expansion of government contained in the Senate health care bill, support for the reform has reached its lowest levels yet.  A mere 38% support the reform while 56% oppose.  I think we can expect support to continue to drop:

Half the survey was conducted before the Senate voted late Saturday to begin debate on its version of the legislation. Support for the plan was slightly lower in the half of the survey conducted after the Senate vote.

Prior to this, support for the plan had never fallen below 41%. Last week, support for the plan was at 47%. Two weeks ago, the effort was supported by 45% of voters.

It seems to me the people are trying to tell this Democratic congress to put the brakes on this reform.  Congress does not appear to be listening.  

Rasmussen: 45% Now Blame Obama for Economy, Oh My!

Though 49% still place the blame for our economic situation on Bush, 45% now put the blame squarely on Obama's actions since taking office. This is a big change for those following Rasmussen's tracking of this measure:

Just a month ago, 55% pointed the finger at Bush, while only 37% said the policies Obama has put in place since taking office were at fault. These findings had remained largely unchanged since May.

Sixty-two percent (62%) now trust their own judgment more than the president’s when it comes to the economic issues facing the nation, up three points from a month ago and up 13 points from early February. Twenty-seven percent (27%) trust Obama’s economic judgment more, and 11% are not sure.

 The longer Obama has the reins, the more he will own it.