So what happens when a popular President proposes important legislation (the stimulus and safety net bill that will pass Congress)? And what happens when that same President spends political capital to sell the bill with the public?
Guess.
Democracy Corps (D):
While some media have reported growing public doubts, Obama’s job approval rating has increased to 58 percent, his highest rating in our polling since the election. Meanwhile, support for Obama’s economic recovery plan remains virtually unchanged with 60 percent of voters favoring passage. There is no evidence of eroding support. Finally, Obama’s plan remains an electoral winner for congressional incumbents. By a 36 to 26 percent margin, voters say they would be more inclined to reelect their Representative in Congress if he or she voted in favor of the Obama recovery plan.
D-Corps? Partisan poll, you say? How about Gallup?
Most of the newfound support comes from rank-and-file Democrats, suggesting President Barack Obama's efforts to sell the plan over the past week -- including in his first televised news conference on Monday -- have shored up support within his own party. Last week, Gallup found 70% of Democrats in favor of Congress passing the economic stimulus package, but today that figure is 82%.
Over the same period, support for the stimulus package held steady among independents, with a slight majority in favor of it. The percentage of Republicans favoring the package rose slightly from 24% to 28%, but remains below the 34% support received in early January, before Congress began its formal consideration of the package.
Oh, and as usual, it's partisan.
Republicans are likely to sulk, but they are still invited to play any time they want. And if they don't want to play? Irrelevance is over there to the Right.