Gloomy Numbers for Obama
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on January 4th, 2012 5:31 am by HL
Gloomy Numbers for Obama
Charles Lane, Washington Post
Campaign 2012 is upon us. Time to size up President Obama’s reelection chances. What do the data suggest?In 2011, an average of 17 percent of the public was “satisfied with the way things are going,” according to the Gallup Poll. That is roughly the same as 2008 — so Obama enters this year leading a country as unhappy as the one he inherited.The president’s approval rating is lower than his disapproval rating. In mid-December, Gallup had him “underwater” by eight points: 42 percent approval and 50 percent disapproval.
Gingrich Concedes Iowa, But Not Race
Amy Gardner, Washington Post
Full of confidence and bombast, Newt Gingrich last week began an eight-day bus tour across Iowa, figuring that the picnic basket of "positive" ideas he has served crowds for months would be enough to stem his downward slide.But that was before polls showed him dropping into fourth place and his message seeming to fall flat. It was before his opponents were done pummeling him with millions in attack ads. Then there were the tears when he talked about his mother and, finally, a vicious flu that left his eyes watery, his speech sluggish and his campaign fighting the perception…
Why Did Santorum Endorse Specter?
Michael Barone, DC Examiner
One question that has surging candidate Rick Santorum squirming is why he backed incumbent Senator Arlen Specter against his Republican primary challenger, then-Congressman Pat Toomey, in 2004. Toomey was clearly the more conservative candidate, and he lost by only 51%-49%, so anything working in Specter’s favor—including Santorum’s endorsement—can reasonably be said to have made the difference.
On Final Day in Iowa, Front-Runners Play to Bases
Erin McPike, RCP
MARION, Iowa — As Mitt Romney completed his Iowa campaign four years ago, he was joined by a trio of senators from early nominating states, including Iowa's own Charles Grassley, New Hampshire's Judd Gregg and South Carolina folk hero Jim DeMint. (Only Gregg — no longer a senator — has endorsed him this time.)On Monday, his final full day on the trail before Iowa Republicans caucus to choose their favorites, Romney's political companions on stage were South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz. Neither of the young politicians hails from a state early in the…
