Obama Faring Better Among Dem Voters Than Every Democratic President Since Truman: Gallup

WASHINGTON -- The debt ceiling debate has provided yet another opportunity for Democratic base voters to lament the political choices of the president they helped elect. A Washington Post-ABC poll released this week found that the number of liberal Democrats who strongly supported President Obama's record on jobs had fallen an astonishing 22 percentage points over the course of a year, from 53 percent to 31 percent. The prioritization of spending cuts over job creation -- not rhetorically, but in terms of governance -- was likely the primary contributor.

But as in similar moments in the past, such as the loss of the public option in the health care debate, the failure to end Bush-era tax cuts on high-earning Americans, and last spring's government shutdown showdown, voters' disappointments in policy choices are not translating to serious problems for Obama's reelection campaign.

President Obama currently enjoys a higher popularity among Democratic voters than every Democratic president dating back to Harry Truman had at similar junctures in their presidencies.

According to Gallup's presidential job approval data, Obama had a 78 percent approval rating among Democrats from July 18 to July 24, 2011. Bill Clinton, meanwhile, had a 77 percent approval rating among Democrats from July 20 to July 23, 1995. Before him, Jimmy Carter had a 37 percent approval rating among Democrats from July 13 to July 16, 1979. Before him, Lyndon Johnson had a 63 percent approval rating among Democrats from July 13 to July 18, 1967. Before him, John F. Kennedy had a 77 percent approval rating among Democrats from July 18 to July 23, 1963. And before him, Harry Truman had a 76 percent approval rating percent among Democrats from July 4 to July 9, 1947.

Obama's approval ratings compared to former presidents at the same time: July 18-24 (Democrats only)

The numbers don't tell the full story. Only two of those presidents, Truman and Clinton, would go on to win reelection. In Carter's case, moreover, that 37 percent approval rating among Democrats represented a near-nadir -- it would be back up to 67 percent by the turn of 1980.

But for the Obama re-election campaign, the side-by-side comparison is an advantageous one. For starters, there is time for the president to improve on his 78 percent. More importantly, his popularity among Democrats has remained consistent even after he threw the party's sacred cows -- Social Security and Medicare -- into the deficit hysteria mix.

Comments

[Marie Russell-Barker]

11:05 PM on 08/31/2011

It's laughable almost the way this Congress have performed like children at play, take their toys and go home not playing with others in one way and then another adults that are use to having it their way stoops to black mail. That is unbecoming for any public official if some one that works in government at a lower lever acted like they did that would be grounds for firing. Do not take Instructions well, irreproachable, unwieldiness to corporate with supervisor. These are grounds that these So Called Representatives would fire one of their helpers in their office for. and the Unions more than likely would loose that battle. Yet this is what they themselves act like unprofessional spoil brats.

[Charlie Jones]

03:15 PM on 08/02/2011

Pres. Obama, Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid including other responsible adults in both parties were the only grownups in the room filled with spoil-brat (T.Party, my way or the highway, no compromise) CHILDREN and most Americans agree---most polls show.

[liberals are losers]

11:21 AM on 08/02/2011

Obama is the worst thing that happened to the US since 9/11

[Charlie Jones]

04:22 PM on 08/02/2011

liberals: if you say that often enough, you just might convince yourself that it's true. Good luck.

[tsemple2]

04:34 PM on 08/02/2011

I see you are new to Huff.... a bit of advice please write something that makes sense

[liberals are losers]

11:20 AM on 08/02/2011

Obama is the shepherd I did not want.
He leadeth me beside the still factories.
He restoreth my faith in the Republican party.
He guideth me in the path of unemployment for his

party's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the bread

line, I shall fear no hunger, for his bailouts are with

me. He has anointed my income with taxes,

My expenses runneth over.
Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all

the days of my life, And I will live in a mortgaged

home forever.

[Markoohay]

09:11 PM on 07/30/2011

It should probably be noted that JFK 77% popularity would have likely resulted in his re-election, had he not been assassinated.

[radsenior]

09:21 PM on 07/29/2011

President Obama has tried to take the high road and has shown true leadership qualities of a president! The TEA party controlled house is in disarray with angry children running around with an "exogenous Addiction to power" since taking the majority in the House! Time will tell who will win and who will win in November 2012.

[W B]

02:57 PM on 07/29/2011

Analysis like this from huffpo is always good for a laugh, especially after todays gallup that gave the President a 40% job approval rating. Say what you will about Republicans, but the fact of the matter is Obama and his merry band of leftists took a crappy economy, and made it much, much worse. Unless moderate Democrats take charge and inject some reality into the political discourse, 2012 will be yet another wipeout for the dems.........

[manntxs]

12:36 PM on 07/29/2011

As he is the only one on the list that ran and won a second term I point to the following.

"Bill Clinton, meanwhile, had a 77 percent approval rating among Democrats from July 20 to July 23, 1995"

Yet, he garnered just under 50% of the popular vote in the subsequent election. So, just over 50% voted no to his relection.

[paintppa1]

07:15 AM on 07/29/2011

which tells you all you need to know about democrat liberals. :)

[CharlieVer]

11:23 AM on 07/29/2011

That we're smart?

[mathme]

12:54 PM on 07/29/2011

Obama isn't a liberal and neither are most Democrats; but you're probably confused about a lot of things.

[macusnret]

03:10 PM on 08/04/2011

Obama and Democrats are not liberal? What planet are you on?

[PolecatMtn]

06:36 AM on 07/29/2011

Regardless of this latest data, Obama will not be reelected in 2012. He will not capture the same states he captured in 2008. He will lose Ohio, Michigan, PA, Florida, VA, Indiana, and North Carolina. It is mathematical.

[CharlieVer]

11:22 AM on 07/29/2011

He'll win all of those and a few more.

[nicko68]

06:16 AM on 07/29/2011

who did the poll, ACORN?

[CharlieVer]

11:23 AM on 07/29/2011

Acorn isn't a polling agency, you obviously know nothing about the group.

[nicko68]

12:14 PM on 08/02/2011

are you kidding me?....the joke's on you!

[mathme]

12:54 PM on 07/29/2011

If I didn't know anything at all, I'd probably think that was a good burn.

[Benjamin J Grimm III]

04:30 AM on 07/29/2011

Obama Is No Victim of the Right Wing -- He's Pandered to Corporate Interests for Years
By JeffCohen on Alternet.org

exerpt:

Two weeks before his inauguration, Obama echoed conservative scares about Social Security and Medicare by talking of “red ink as far as the eye can see.” He opened his doors to Social Security/Medicare cutters -- first trying to get Republican Senator JuddGregg (“a leading voice for reining in entitlement spending,” wrote Politico) into his cabinet, and later appointing entitlement-foe AlanSimpson to co-chair his “Deficit Commission.” Obama’s top economic advisor, LarrySummers, came to the White House publicly telling Time magazine of needed Social Security cuts.

[Benjamin J Grimm III]

04:31 AM on 07/29/2011

I'm extremely troubled by this. I don't like to give ammunition to the enemy, but I'm beginning to agree with BernieSanders call to recruit someone to primary Obama. Maybe it was a shrewd move by Obama to put up 83% cuts vs. 17% revenue, but to put the big 3 on the table for the GOPers to cut sounded like more super capitulation if the GOPers had taken the deal.

I've often wondered why he chose some of the people he did to be in his administration -- plenty of C|!nt0n and Bush holdovers and corporate h@cks.

Is he a corporate wolf in sheeps clothing?

Discuss.

[JAT3]

03:42 AM on 07/29/2011

I know the tro//s lurk! But regardless... BO has done very good giving what he was dealt with on taking office and dealing with all the obstructionist intent by the right wing party publicly made pledge to make him a one term president. To say the least that we are no longer in a recession only says things could and should get better....but would be better if the opposing party wasn't so out to get BO on every single thing he tries!

For the REPs willing to let the US default and BO/DEMS willing to use the 14th amdmt...only show who is more willing to put people first over party unlike his opposition thats about money, greed and partylines. This speaks volumes in short of a good presidency and IMO deserving of a second term!

[bk1]

01:12 AM on 07/29/2011

Sam Stein's headline is an insult. President Obama inherited the worse economy since the great depression and has made a series of excellent calls in working us out of this W created ditch. He has accepted absolutely ridiculous compromises like extending the Bush tax policy just to protect our devastated middle class. He has delivered a healthcare strategy that while not perfect is a dramatic improvement over the status quo. He has earned and deserves the support of every Progressive in this country. Bring on 2012.

[lola85]

08:17 AM on 07/29/2011

Fanned.

[3in1]

02:52 PM on 07/29/2011

I think you need to check "Democracy Now."

[StillIRise]

12:32 AM on 07/29/2011

I know it's silly of me, but I'm really trying to understand the "logic" of the some of the tro//s' comments. The premise of this article is that President Obama's Democratic base is solidly behind him. So the tro//s respond by saying the President's base is crumbling, as if the facts to the contrary presented in this article, simply don't exist! A week or so ago, we read about Obama's unprecedented fundraising success, which clearly indicates that his base is expanding, even beyond the Democratic Party. But the tro//s want us to believe that no one - Democrat, Republican, or Independent - supports the President ... again, as if the facts to the contrary simply don't exist. Then, to substantiate these unsubstantiated claims, they're now making up their own facts, like ... all of the enlightened and educated Democrats have abandoned President Obama ... or all of the Independents who supported President Obama have become Republicans ... but they never seem to have a source or link to back any of this up, so I guess just saying so is supposed to make it true. Here're the facts tro//s: The President's Democratic base, though frustrated and disappointed and even angry at times, is nonetheless behind him, and will vote to re-elect him in 2012. In addition, beyond the Democratic base that's solidy behind him, the President's overall base has expanded, and one can only assume that this means that Independents and even some Republicans support him as well. And these are the facts, regardless of what Fox and Rush tell you!

[collettethehedgehog]

05:08 AM on 07/29/2011

Had to fan you for your cogent yet sweetly endearing post. Plus that baby face.

[3in1]

02:57 PM on 07/29/2011

The problem he has high "non voter" polls. Those that vote are the ones crumbling.

[Charlie Jones]

04:02 PM on 08/02/2011

3in1, thanks for illustrating stilllRises' point that when your opponent is winning the fight, use an abundance of propaganda and repeat over and over and over again and then some, all in an attempt to influence public opinion which only proves that you and others like you are good students of FOX and you deserve an A+ for learning your propaganda lessons well; however, you deserve an F- for deliberately spreading misinfo and denying FACTS even when said FACTS have been proven beyond the shadow of a doubt!