GOP research has delved into this week's polls and the news is not good for Barack Obama's reelection aspirations.
Obama’s Approval Rating Is Down
A 51 Percent Majority Of Voters Disapproves Of The Job Obama Is Doing, While Just 42 Percent Approve. “Obama’s overall job approval rating stands at 42 percent, down from 47 percent last month. The drop comes mainly from Democrats: 80 percent approve now, down from 86 percent in March. A 51 percent majority of voters disapproves of the job Obama is doing.” (Dana Blanton, “Fox News Poll: Romney Edges Obama As Approval Of President Drops,” Fox News, 4/12/12)
76 Percent Of Americans Say The Economy Is Still In Recession
“More Voters Think Obama’s Policies Have Hurt Rather Than Helped The Economy. Three In 10 Say His Policies Haven’t Made Much A Difference Either Way.” (Dana Blanton, “Fox News Poll: Romney Edges Obama As Approval Of President Drops,” Fox News, 4/12/12)
“There’s One Number In The Latest Washington Post-ABC News Poll That Should Send A Chill Up The Collective Spine Of President Obama And His Reelection Team. That Number? 76.” (Chris Cillizza, “The Single Scariest Number For President Obama In The Washington Post-ABC Poll,” The Washington Post, 4/11/12)
- 76 Percent Of Americans Say The Economy Is Still In Recession, While Just 21 Percent Say The Recession Is Over. “Seventy six percent of respondents said that the economy is ‘still in recession’ while just 21 percent said the recession is over, according to the Post-ABC poll.” (Chris Cillizza, “The Single Scariest Number For President Obama In The Washington Post-ABC Poll,” The Washington Post, 4/11/12)
The Numbers Suggest Belief That The Economy Is Still In Recession Is Not A Partisan Issue Or Specific To Any Demographic Group “And That’s A Problem For President Obama.” “What the consistency of those numbers suggest is that the belief that the economy remains caught in recession are neither unique to people of a certain partisan bent or those of a particular demographic group. And that’s a problem for President Obama.” (Chris Cillizza, “The Single Scariest Number For President Obama In The Washington Post-ABC Poll,” The Washington Post, 4/11/12)
- “While 85 Percent Of Republicans Feel The Economy Is Still In Recession So Do 68 Percent Of Democrats And 77 Percent Of Independents.” (Chris Cillizza, “The Single Scariest Number For President Obama In The Washington Post-ABC Poll,” The Washington Post, 4/11/12)
"Moreover, As Many Americans Say Their Local Economy Is Not Even Starting To Get Better As Say The Situation Is Improving.”(Dan Balz and Jon Cohen, “Obama Holds Key Leads On Romney, As Economy Malaise Looms Over Reelection Bid,” The Washington Post, 4/10/12)
70 Percent Of Americans Say Jobs Are “Difficult To Find” In The Communities, While Just 24 Percent Say They Are “Plenty Of Jobs Available.” (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
“By More Than Two-To-One Voters Say The Spending Is Out Of Control And The Country Must Take Action To Reduce The National Debt.” (Dana Blanton, “Fox News Poll: Romney Edges Obama As Approval Of President Drops,” Fox News, 4/12/12)
A Majority Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of The Economy
54 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of The Way Obama Is Handling The Economy, While Just 44 Percent Approve. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
- 42 Percent Of Americans Say They “Strongly” Disapprove Of The Way Obama Is Handling The Economy. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
“Nearly Half Of All Americans Say His Handling Of The Economy Is A Major Reason To Oppose His Reelection; Far Fewer See It As A Big Reason To Support His Bid.” (Dan Balz and Jon Cohen, “Obama Holds Key Leads On Romney, As Economy Malaise Looms Over Reelection Bid,” The Washington Post, 4/10/12)
- 46 Percent Of Americans Say A Major Reason To Oppose Obama Is His Handling Of The Economy, While Just 32 Percent Say It Is A Major Reason To Support Him. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
Obama Is Struggling To Win Over Americans On His Handling Of Gas Prices
Americans Views On Obama’s Handling Of Gas Prices Are “Among The Worst Ratings On Any Issue During His Presidency.” “The political angle on gas prices extends beyond hardship to where people place blame. Obama is taking a beating in public opinion on his dealings with gas prices. Just 28 percent approve of the job he is doing in this area; 62 percent disapprove, with half saying they disapprove ‘strongly.’ Those are among the worst ratings on any issue during his presidency. As many Democrats strongly disapprove as strongly approve of Obama’s handling of the situation.” (Dan Balz and Jon Cohen, “Obama Holds Key Leads On Romney, As Economy Malaise Looms Over Reelection Bid,” The Washington Post, 4/10/12)
62 Percent Of Americans Disapprove The Way Obama Is Handling The Situation With Gas Prices While Just 28 Percent Approve. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
- 50 Percent Of Americans Say They “Strongly” Disapprove Of The Way Obama Is Handling The Situation With Gas Prices. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
Americans Are Resolute In Their Opposition To ObamaCare
53 Percent Of Americans Oppose ObamaCare, While Just 39 Percent Say They Support It. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
- 40 Percent Of Americans “Strongly” Oppose ObamaCare, While Just 23 Percent “Strongly” Support It. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
67 Percent Of Americans Want The Supreme Court To Throw Out All Or Part Of ObamaCare, While Just 25 Percent Want It Upheld Entirely. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE 3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
And Americans Don’t Like The Direction Obama Is Taking The Country
64 Percent Of Americans Say They Think America Is On The Wrong Track, While Just 33 Say It Is Headed In The Right Direction. (The Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1103A, MoE3.5%, 4/5-8/12)
Obama Has His Own Troubles In Key States
Roanoke College Poll: 54 Percent Of Virginia Voters Disapprove Of President Obama’s Job Performance, While 38 Percent Approve. (Roanoke College Poll, 603 Residents, MoE 4%, 3/26-4/5/12)
EPIC/MRA Poll: 55 Percent Of Michigan Voters Disapprove Of President Obama’s Job Performance, While 44 Percent Approve. (EPIC/MRA Poll, 600 LV, MoE 4%, 3/31-4/3)
And Republican Enthusiasm For November Is Up
“More Republicans (42 Percent) Than Democrats (32 Percent) Or Independents (34 Percent) Say They Are ‘Extremely’ Interested In The Upcoming Presidential Election.” (Dana Blanton, “Fox News Poll: Romney Edges Obama As Approval Of President Drops,” Fox News, 4/12/12)
Adding one more to the GOP's extensive list: - 56 percent of American voters say Barack Obama attempted to intimidate the Supreme Court. (Dana Blanton, "Fox News Poll: 56% Say Obama Tried to Intimidate Court on Health Care," Fox News, 4/12/12)