The comeback kid? Democratic candidates close enthusisam gap. Support for President Obama now 54%

[TheBigotBasher]

Despite doom-saying about Democrats’ chances in the midterms, the latest NEWSWEEK Poll (full results) shows that they remain in a close race with Republicans 12 days before Election Day, while the president’s approval ratings have climbed sharply. The poll finds that 48 percent of registered voters would be more likely to vote for Democrats, compared with 42 percent who lean Republican (those numbers are similar to those in the last NEWSWEEK Poll, which found Democrats favored 48 percent to 43 percent). President Obama’s approval ratings have jumped substantially, crossing the magic halfway threshold to 54 percent, up from 48 percent in late September, while the portion of respondents who disapprove of the president dropped to 40 percent, the lowest disapproval rating in a NEWSWEEK Poll since February 2010. However, his approval rating, which is notably higher than many recent polls of the president’s popularity, may be evidence of a closing “enthusiasm gap” more than a sea change in voter attitudes, and may not substantially affect Democrats’ fortunes come Election Day. In 1994, NEWSWEEK Polls showed a similar steep climb in President Clinton’s approval between late September and late October, but Democrats still suffered a rout in the midterms.

While two thirds (69 percent) of self-identified Republican voters say they’ve given a lot or some thought to the election, 62 percent of Democrats say they have. This result indicates that the difference in enthusiasm between Democratic and Republican voters may be less stark than some other polls have suggested. A small plurality of registered voters—48 to 43 percent—would prefer that Democrats keep control of Congress. (The poll’s margin of error is 4.3 percent.) The new survey also offers a morsel of evidence that Democrats’ strategy of gaining an edge among early voters might be succeeding. They hold a 10-point lead among those who have already voted, 52 points to 42, but because the sample only represents 92 voters out of the 1,005 polled, Hugick says more polling is necessary for a conclusive picture. Early voting—which has steadily gained popularity in recent years—is expected to have an impact on the election, with three in 10 voters expected to cast ballots before Nov. 2.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/22/poll-obama-approval-jumps-dems-more-fired-up.html

[saltpoint]

1. I wonder if in part Obama's approval rating has gone

up related to his personal appearances these last two weeks generally and the appearance with the First Lady in Columbus especially.

The two of them together on that stage in Columbus was a sizzler of an image. I loved it.

[Cosmocat]

9. Here it is in a nutshell ...

the MSM has gone radio silence on brain dead stupid republican reality TV show BS ...

Seriously ... The last three weeks or so, we have not had any big, contrived, flag pin, reverand wright or whatever braindead crape made into a big "controversy."

When the MSM allows the right to have the megaphone on their nonsense, it drags everything down ... When that factor is no present, the country drifts in a positive manner ...

[saltpoint]

10. Yes. The number of far-Right propagandists on the

air waves is astonishing.

Friends of ours believe that the reason there is no liberal equivalent to FOX is because "liberals have lives." I like the sentiment but still resent FOX and other MSM sources when they let the crazies set programming.

[Avalux]

2. K&R! Fantastic news!

In keeping with the comeback theme.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEEiJ8Pfch0



:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[glowing]

3. Its because everyone likes him in campaign mode.. If he was more vocal

against the idiots like the tan man boner when debating crucial issues that effect our everyday lives, he would have a constant approval rating of about 50%.

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. He's in his element, when he's out among the people. I think this has

definitely had some impact on the numbers, for all Dems, much to the chagrin of some of our "progressive" allies. I wonder how much coverage this poll will get on the Sunday news roundups? As if I even have to ask.

[monmouth]

5. And yet TPM still has him at 45%. Sometimes I don't get that site...n/t

[FrenchieCat]

6. You won't hear about this in the media

EVER!

[Valienteman]

14. Isn't newsweek a media outlet?

?

[Mosaic]

7. Good for Newsweek

We need more media to report this important news. They love a horserace after all, good for rating$ and all.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. Horserace, horse shit.

They love Republican victories. Good for the bottom line$ of the corporation$ that own them.

[citizen477]

12. You really Think So?

I don't know about that anymore. The far-right, tea party movement that has implicated itself into the Republican Party scares the living day lights out of many corporate board members. This "no-longer-fringe" element is touting things like cutting Medicare and Medicaid, infrastructural spending, public pensions and on and on. It turns out that many of these so-called "private" corporations benefit (more than you know) from federal, state and local government spending through contracting and sub-contracting. If too many "cut-spending" Republicans fill up Congress, many coporate boards will be concerned.

However, there is another element to this. You see, what many tea-partyers don't realize is that Congress is a 236-year-old institution that is not going to allow any, ole whipper-snapper to run up in there and do any knee-jerk, theme-of-the day changes. These Tea Party candidates, if elected, will be met with serious opposition because institutions like Congress just don't up and change over night. Tea Party candidates have a rude awakening coming. Even the Obama administration was quite disappointed and a bit disillusioned by how watered down many of its initiatives and legislation had to become before they could pass through both chambers.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Interesting points.

The Tea Party in many ways has become Frankenstein's Monster.

And while you might be right about corporate interests being buttered by gov't largesse, there is also the point that Wall Street wants to get its paws on all that SS/Medicare $$ & pension $$, and anything diverted into actual production is not flowing into their coffers. This would suggest that maybe the Street will end up liking the 'baggers better than certain corporations.

[MaeScott]

8. Media will still lie and tell us how dire it is for the Dems....

....GOTV. Make them eat crow election day. Again.