Rasmussen: It's the Approval Rate, Stupid and We have to start polling differently

[VirginiaTarheel]

As we have been reporting all year, a president’s job approval rating is one of the best indicators for assessing his chances of reelection. The president’s job approval on the morning of Election Day precisely matched his share of the vote. That happened the last time an incumbent ran for reelection as well.

Today, the president is enjoying a modest bounce in the wake of his successful bid for reelection. His 52% approval rating is his highest since September when he was enjoying a convention bounce. The nation at the moment remains sharply polarized. Ninety percent (90%) of Democrats approve of the president’s performance, while 87% of Republicans disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 47% approve and 52% disapprove.

Today’s figures include 34% who Strongly Approve of the way Obama is performing as president and 40% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him Presidential Approval Index rating of -6 (see trends). That’s his best Approval Index rating in nearly two years, since January 2011.

Results are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update).

Last night’s results raise significant questions about whether the Republican establishment in Washington is relevant. Nearly four years ago, Scott Rasmussen wrote that the Republican Party would “sink further into irrelevancy as long as its key players insist on hanging around Congress or K Street for their ideas.”

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

[fugop]

1. 99.99% of all voters think Rasmussen sucks.

Scott Rasmussen, the lone holdout, remains undecided on the issue.