CNN reports:According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey released Tuesday, 59 percent of the public says Obama has the personality and leadership qualities a president should have, with four in ten disagreeing.
"That may be good news for Obama, but it's not a plus for Democratic candidates in this year's midterm elections," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Without Obama's name on the ballot, the effects of his personal popularity are limited."
The 59 percent who say Obama has the personality and leadership a president should have is down six points from 65 percent in May.
Forty-two percent of people questioned say that they agree with Obama on the issues that matter most to them, down from 48 percent in May, with 55 percent saying they do not agree with the president, up five points from May.
"Nearly two-thirds of independents say they disagree with Obama on important issues. But 55 percent of moderates agree with the President," Holland notes. "What's the difference? Part of it may be due to the changing face of independents in this country. When more than four in ten supporters of the Tea Party call themselves independents, it means that a sizeable chunk of the "independent" bloc is not exactly neutral on Obama or the Democrats."
Midterms
Some say the midterms on November 2, 2010, will be a referendum on Obama and Democrat's policies and the legislation they have passed since Obama has been president and I woud agree to a point.
With three weeks to go, the projections have been called everything from a GOP "tidal wave" to"Hurricane GOP", massive "tsunami" and the latest word being used is a "Republican avalanche".
(Question- what the hell is with all the weather analogies?)
Almost each and every handicapper and projection shows the GOP taking control of the House of Representatives (No more Speaker Pelosi- YEAHHHHHHH), with some now claiming the Senate could very well turn, but that is still considered a long shot.
2012 Presidential Election
For some, they may point to Barack Obama being liked as reason for "hope" in the 2012 Presidential election, but I would disagree.
In 2008, Obama personality and likability brought Independents to him in droves but now that he is president and those same voters have seen his style, his agenda and his partisan nature, I do not think they will allow their like of him as a person to sway them but will instead vote on the issues, to which the majority disagree with him on.
Still two years to go and if Republicans take either chamber of congress or even both, then there is no doubt the political landscape will change by 2012.
Likability though will not be the deciding factor as it was in 2008.
In a recent Bloomberg poll we see that likely voters believe "Obama’s policies have harmed rather than helped the economy," and "Among those who say they are most enthusiastic about voting this year, 6 of 10 say the Democrat has damaged the economy."
In 2008, Obama turned the race into a personality contest, I doubt voters will be as easily led down that path again after witnessing his progressive agenda and finding it wanting.
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