Without counting the south Obama would be flying high in the polls

[WI_DEM]

This is just from the Research 2000 poll showing Obama down to 55% positive 40% negative job rating.

But look at the regional breakdown:

NORTHEAST 81 13 6
SOUTH 27 68 5
MIDWEST 62 33 5
WEST 60 36 4

In the NE Obama has an amazing 81% approval rating. Solid numbers in both the MW and West, but look at the South! 27% approval rating and 68% disapproval. With numbers like that Obama probably is in trouble in the southern states he carried last year: Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. But should be in good shape in the other states he carried in the rest of the country.

Other than that seniors are a major problem:

18-29 78 18 4
30-44 45 48 7
45-59 61 34 5
60+ 43 54 3

Only 43% approval among 60+ and the problem with that is they are the group most inclined to vote in off year elections--much more than Obama's strong 18-29 year old base.

http://www.dailykos.com/weeklypoll/2009/8/27

On the other hand Congressional Republicans are faring worse than anybody, look at there pathetic numbers:

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS
FAV UNFAV NO OPINION
ALL 14 73 13
MEN 21 67 12
WOMEN 7 79 14
DEM 5 92 3
REP 42 33 25
IND 8 79 13
OTH/REF 9 74 17
NON VOTERS 6 81 13
WHITE 17 67 16
BLACK 3 94 3
LATINO 7 84 9
OTHER/REF 5 85 10
18-29 7 86 7
30-44 21 60 19
45-59 12 80 8
60+ 13 71 16
NORTHEAST 6 88 6
SOUTH 28 50 22
MIDWEST 9 81 10
WEST 10 78 12

[derby378]

1. We're working on Texas - give us time

Last I heard, the DNC is having some sort of regional meeting down in Austin two weeks from now.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Seniors are more likely to only watch TV and not be on the internet

and therefore more likely to succumb to Faux propaganda.

The South? There is still so much racism here it makes me sick.

[MarjorieG]

3. Once health care becomes clearer and less frightening, seniors will increase. Plus a possible Israel

-Palestine working plan may help Florida.

[ThomWV]

4. Now if he'd only figure it out for himself, he doesn't have to count the South.

Well, he is the President of all the people, but that doesn't mean that he has to coddle to the idiots and if they have compacted themselves into a single region, so much the better.

[CanonRay]

5. 60+; THE Fox News audience

[sinkingfeeling]

6. You mean the South, the home of the last of the Republicans? Duh!

[WI_DEM]

7. Yeah but come on even for the south 27% is surprising considering how well Obama did in '08

in several states in the region.

[LuvNewcastle]

8. It is surprisingly low.

I would think that Obama's popularity down here is more in the 40 percent range. I know a lot of people who support the President, including some Republicans. The polling must have been flawed. I know that most people here don't like Obama, but no way are they 70+ percent of the population.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. It's not surprising to me. I live here in a state Clinton would have carried, but went for McCain by

almost 58%. I work and talk with these people and I'm not surprised in the least. If Obama, personally gave each one of them a check for $10,000, they'd take the money and still hate him.

[mwb970]

10. Without counting the South, America would be the greatest country in the world.

So what? We're stuck with it, like a giant pus wart on the face of the body politic.