Yes, it's the economy stupid. The flash and buzz of Weinergate is receding, the bump from killing Osama bin Laden has faded.
Yes, Virginia, Americans care about the economy and their jobs. Not, the defiict. Not, the debt ceiling. The 'bumps on the road'may be those impeding Obama's reelection chances.
The survey portrays a broadly pessimistic mood in the country this spring as higher gasoline prices, sliding home values and a disappointing employment picture have raised fresh concerns about the pace of the economic recovery.
The recently announced departure of chief economic adviser Austan Goolsbee illustrates the difficulties within the administration in advancing the economy and is just a really bad sign.
A new poll by WaPo/ABC shows Romney leading Obama 49% to 46% among registered voters.
Among all Americans, Obama and Romney are knotted at 47 percent each, and among registered voters, the former governor is numerically ahead, 49 percent to 46 percent.
'Everyone knows' that Romney will never winthe nomination, right? I wouldn't take comfort in that. Obama does lead every other Republican by a few points, so maybe the GOP will nominate the candidatewho can beat Obama.
Americans' dissafection with Obama's handling of the economy provides an opening and is a huge vulnerability.
Overall, about six in 10 of those surveyed give Obama negative marks on the economy and the deficit. Significantly, nearly half strongly disapprove of his performance in these two crucial areas. Nearly two-thirds of political independents disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy, including — for the first time — a slim majority who do so strongly.
In another indicator of rapidly shifting views on economic issues, 45 percent trust congressional Republicans over the president when it comes to dealing with the economy, an 11-point improvement for the GOP since March. Still, nearly as many, 42 percent, side with Obama on this issue.
The president has sought to point to progress on the economy, particularly in the automobile industry, and to argue that the policies he put in place at the beginning of his term are working. But the combined effects of weak economic indicators and dissatisfaction among the public are adding to the political pressures on the White House as the president’s advisers look toward what could be a difficult 2012 reelection campaign.
Meanwhile, Romney emerges in the new survey as the strongest current or prospective Republican candidate in the 2012 presidential field. Although he is by no means in a secure spot, on virtually every measure, the former governor appears better positioned than any of his rivals.
Let's hope Sarah's bus tour is a sign that she will run, as a third party candidate.
Almost two-thirds of all Americans say they “definitely would not” vote for Palin for president. She is predictably unpopular with Democrats and most independents, but the new survey underscores the hurdles she would face if she became a candidate: 42 percent of Republicans say they’ve ruled out supporting her candidacy.