Gallup Poll has just released numbers this morning on the stimulus fight and it shows that Obama has the upper hand in the stimulus fight with the Congressional GOP.
Obama has an 67% approval rating on how he his handling the stimulus fight while Republicans in congress have a 58% disapproval rating.
http://www.gallup.com/...
Gallup Poll asked the following:
Do you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following has handled the government's efforts to pass an economic stimulus bill?
President Obama: 67% approve, 25% disapprove
Democrats in Congress: 48% approve, 42% disapprove
Republicans in Congress: 31% approve, 58% disapprove
Question about confidence:
Thinking back to the way you felt before Barack Obama took office, would you say you now have more confidence, has there been no change, or do you now have less confidence in the Obama administration.
Ability to improve the economy: 55% more confidence, 25% no change, 17% less confidence.
Ability to manage the federal government: 51% more confidence, 27% no change, 18% less confidence
Question about how critically important pass stimulus bill:
In terms of improving the economy, how important do you think it is that the government pass an economic stimulus plan - critically important, important, but not critical, or not that important?
Critically important: 51%
Important, but not critical: 29%
Not that important: 16%
Gallup's bottom line:
Bottom Line
President Obama would appear to have the upper hand in the current focus on Congress' efforts to pass a major economic stimulus bill. Not only does Obama get much higher approval ratings for the way in which he is handling the stimulus issue than do either the Democrats or, in particular, the Republicans in Congress, but a majority of Americans agree with him that passing such a bill is critically important for improving the nation's economy.
What this says to me that Obama is his own best advocate on the stimulus package. People trust him. As a result, it is a very good thing that Obama is out there today in Indiana and tomorrow in Florida talking DIRECTLY to the people. He needs to put this in the context of the American people and NOT about fighting about ideology in the Congress.
This also says to me that the Republicans are coming increasingly off as the party of "NO" and not caring about the unemployed or even the economy.