Monday, Dec. 14, 2009

As 2009 draws to a close, the honeymoon is decidedly over for President Barack Obama, whose 49 percent approval rating is not only the lowest of his presidency, but puts him below 50 percent for the first time.

Sliding numbers extend to his Democratic Party as well as they head into what could be a disastrous midterm election year.

Democrats have lost double-digit ground to revived Republicans on every issue, including the economy, health care and foreign affairs.

On the economy, for example, the Democratic Party a year ago enjoyed a 31-point advantage.

That edge has evaporated to one point.

As Americans struggle, just 36 percent say the country is on the right track since Obama’s election in November 2008.

Sixty percent say it’s traveling down the wrong track.

Obama and the Democrats seemed to have smooth sailing ahead after their triumphant takeover of the White House to go along with majorities in the House and Senate.

But entering 2010, when the House and a third of the Senate are up for grabs, the electorate is increasingly restive and no longer willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt.

Just as Afghanistan is now “Obama’s war,” he and the Democrats must bear the brunt of public anxiety over the economy until some job gains or other tangible benefits people can feel materialize.

A McClatchy-Ipsos poll released Dec. 8 found 49 percent of Americans approvd of the way Obama is performing as president, down from 53 percent in October.
Forty-nine percent also disapprove.