Obama Approval Rebounds (49%) as Congress Tanks. POTUS +15 on protecting the middle class.

[jefferson_dem]

Obama Approval Rebounds as Congress Tanks

Aided by comparison to the vastly unpopular Congress, Barack Obama has advanced to a 49 percent job approval rating in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll - his best showing since spring, and one that, if it holds, that may put his re-election prospects back within reach.

The result continues an improving trend for the president amid some signs of economic gains. And it contrasts with both parties in Congress, embroiled in their latest game of political chicken. A mere 27 percent of Americans now approve of the Democrats in Congress, and just 20 percent approve of the Republicans – both new lows in ABC/Post polling back to 1994.

Obama’s rating, while still (barely) under 50 percent, is up from his career-low 42 percent in October, and back at the level at which he could run competitively for a second term. George W. Bush had 47 percent approval as close as three months before he won re-election in 2004.

The question in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, is whether Obama’s rating merely reflects blowback against the machinations of Congress. Its latest budget brouhaha put a possible government shutdown back on the table until Saturday, and still threatens extension of the current payroll tax cut. As much as he might like to run against Congress, Obama’s actual opponent – the eventual GOP nominee – may be less of an easy mark.

As things stand, Obama’s regained a substantial (now 15-point) advantage over the Republicans in Congress in trust to protect the middle class, 50-35 percent, after seeing his edge on the issue shrink to 4 points last month. He’s also moved ahead in trust to handle taxes, 46-41 percent, after trailing in October; and runs about evenly in trust to handle the economy and job creation.

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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/obama-advances-as-congress-tanks/

[McCamy Taylor]

1. That's because he is starting to protect the middle class.

Positive reinforcement.

[ProSense]

2. Trending up:

"82 percent of Democrats approve of his job performance overall"

"Forty-four percent of independents now approve of Obama’s work, while 51 percent disapprove....up by 10 points from a career-low 34 percent approval from independents in October."

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. "put his re-elections prospects back in reach"

When were they ever OUT of reach, I mean, against the losers the GOP is putting up?

[Richardo]

4. Does anyone at ABC know that the President is not elected by popular vote?

Unless they can tell us what states their respondents are in, this (and every one of the 40,000 polls we'll see in the next 11 months) is meaningless.

The only significant measure in polls like this is the trend: up or down?

[tblue]

5. True. And it's very early. But I predict he'll win.

The trend is what's favorable. It will reinforce the actions he's now taking.

[jefferson_dem]

6. National polls are not meaningless...

They reflect the overall mood of the country, which will foreshadow state-level numbers.

The trend is UP! That's good.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Here's a story on his progress in swing states......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100241583

[Angry Dragon]

7. But I am told the only number that matters is the liberal number

[Scurrilous]

9. Thanks.