ABC/WaPo: Romney Favorability Levels Off At Lowest Mark For A Presumptive Nominee

[ProSense]

ABC/WaPo: Romney Favorability Levels Off At Lowest Mark For A Presumptive Nominee

Tom Kludt

After his personal popularity saw a resurgence almost immediately after he wrapped up the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney’s favorability rating has plateaued at a historically low level, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 40 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of Romney — virtually identical to the 41 percent high-water mark that his favorability rating reached in the ABC/WaPo survey from late May. Compounding matters for the presumptive Republican nominee: the percentage of the public who view him unfavorably has jumped from 45 percent to 49 percent. Romney’s standing is even lower among independents, with only 37 percent of the bellwether voting bloc viewing him favorably compared with 50 percent who view him unfavorably.

Romney’s 40 percent favorability mark represents the lowest midsummer personal popularity rating for a presumptive presidential nominee dating back to 1948. Perhaps Romney’s only solace is that former President George H.W. Bush nursed a comparable 41 percent favorability rating at a similar point in 1988. Bush, of course, went on to comfortably win the presidential election that year — although he wasn’t facing an incumbent.

The former Massachusetts governor has been plagued by low favorability ratings throughout the 2012 campaign, but it wasn’t long ago when it looked like his personal appeal was recovering. After Rick Santorum ended his presidential bid in April, Romney’s favorability rating grew, seemingly a sign that his low popularity was due in large part to a bruising Republican nomination contest. But that resurgence has tapered off this summer. This trend is illustrated by the PollTracker Average, which shows 40.1 percent view Romney favorably compared with 49.6 percent who view him unfavorably.

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http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/poll-romney-favorability-popularity-low.php

[catbyte]

1. I feel personally insulted by Mitt Romney and his campaign

The way his numbers are tanking I have the feeling I'm not the only one. He's treating us like we're stupid, ignorant peasants and I'm sick of it. Take your entitled condescension elsewhere, Mr. .01%.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Taz, Nigel, and new baby brother Sammy, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"We Ride Inside--HISS!”

[Wounded Bear]

2. Yeah, there's a lot of that going around....

[coalition_unwilling]

3. The poll results brought to mind a witticism supposedly uttered by

Oscar Wilde:

"He has no enemies, but his friends intensely dislike him."

[SunsetDreams]

4. Thanks I was eating cereal

and dang near choked when I got to the lowest since 1948.

[ProSense]

9. It was double-take worthy.

[tanyev]

5. Nothing wrong with a nice, level, safe plateau....

[uponit7771]

6. 40% would be mostly reliable GOPers, his ratings are horrible but they'll STILL vote for him

[CoffeeCat]

7. From a marketing viewpoint, it's simple...

Mitt needs more photo ops with shopping carts! Not just one cart, but TWO CARTS!! Fill those
babies up with products that are relatable to the average voter! Just fill that cart to the brim with
Hot Pockets, Cheetos, Banquet chicken pot pies, Yahoo chocolate soda and mountains of generic toilet paper!

And don't forget your expandable coupon caddy that snaps right onto the handle of the cart!

You'll be golden baby, GOLDEN!!

[ananda]

8. 40% sounds like a politically manufactured high to me.

I bet it's lower than that in actuality.