How Low Can He Go?

Though 2010 is less than a quarter completed, the year is not shaping up as President Obama’s best.  Released on Thursday, the new Gallup poll numbers were not a welcome sign for Obama. President Obama showed a razor thin 46 percent approval rating, and the poll found that 45 percent of the American people now disapprove of the job he has done. A far cry from last year at this time when his approval rating was 62 percent and his disapproval was 27 percent, this week’s poll marked the lowest rating of the short-lived Administration.

And, a big reason for Obama’s plunge in the polls relates to healthcare reform. The process has dragged on longer than anyone could have ever imaged.  A recent Gallop poll showed 48 percent of the American people opposed to Obama’s healthcare plan with 45 percent still in favor.  Why are they opposed?  First, 20 percent believe it would raise the cost of insurance.  Second, 19 percent believe the President’s plan did not address the real problems currently plaguing healthcare.  And third, 8 percent said they needed more information or were not clear on how the proposed changes would work.  Clearly, these are not welcome signs for the President’s senior staff who have worked tirelessly to sell the White House’s reform efforts.

With the 2010 midterm elections just around the corner – where Republicans are expected to pick up a significant number of seats – the new polling numbers show President Obama has major problems.  Having to deal with two overseas wars and the worst recession since The Great Depression, the once unstoppable Senator could be in a rut.  Let’s wait and see...

Kevin Fickenscher, MD

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Dell Services or its affiliates.