This is insane. According to gallop tracking poll Obama is only ahead 2pts against either romney or

[still_one]

ginrich

That is hard for me to believe

http://www.gallup.com/poll/election.aspx

[valerief]

1. And Gallup never lies. Bwah! nt

[still_one]

2. This is the results they got at this moment in time. Do you think they are making it up? /nt

[XemaSab]

3. I think a lot of people are still in fantasy land about the GOP nominees

[bigtree]

7. not really. Obama more popular now than Clinton was at this point in 1996

from AllVoices: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11262530-obama-more-popular-now-than-clinton-was-at-this-point-in-1996

Recent polling data compiled by Real Clear Politics shows that President Obama’s composite job approval rating is at 47 percent, compared to a 48.2 percent disapproval rating as of Jan. 8.

Some 16 years ago, another incumbent first-term Democratic president who took a whipping in the midterms was facing re-election. And in January of 1996, poll numbers were bleaker for then-President Bill Clinton than they are today for President Obama.

An Associated Press story from Jan. 8, 1996, reports that Clinton’s approval rating as measured by Gallup was 42 percent, some 5 percentage points lower than Obama’s composite RCP number. As of Jan. 8, Gallup’s rolling poll data was measuring Obama at 46 percent.

Moreover, the 1996 Gallup poll found Clinton trailing then-presumptive GOP nominee Sen. Bob Dole in a hypothetical matchup. In that poll, Dole received 49 percent support to Clinton’s 46 percent.

read: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11262530-obama-more-popular-now-than-clinton-was-at-this-point-in-1996

[MannyGoldstein]

10. How about a chart showing real unemployment rate vs. whether the incumbent got re-elected?

That's why Democrats need to actually do stuff, not just whine that they tried to negotiate with the mean Republicans.

[XemaSab]

13. My point is that they think Newt and Mitt are hot young chicks

when really they're broken down old hags.

[Angry Dragon]

4. And I ask you does it really matter at this time??

The republicans have not decided on a nominee
The election is almost ten months away
To be worried about polls at this time is in itself insane.............

Relax, sit back and watch the republicans eat themselves
it is all good

[elleng]

8. Agree!

[neverforget]

5. wait till the Republicans nominate the crazy one (whoever that may be) and

then we'll see how the polls are against Obama. Once they find out what they stand for and contrast that with Obama, it won't be as close. But then again, they did elect W.....

[elleng]

6. Its early, to say the least,

no time to consider b.s. that went on in SC. and 'portraits' we obtained of grinch + mittens.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. 15% real unemployment will do that

People want a way out.

[emilyg]

11. Economy is still #1 issue.

[russspeakeasy]

12. Depends on how you pose the question.

"Would you rather see the economy improve, or would you vote for a candidate that would improve it?".

[pamela]

14. I don't see why this surprises anyone.

The right has been attacking President Obama relentlessly for three solid years, calling him every nasty, dirty name in the book. Some on the left have been criticisizing him non-stop since inauguration day, too. Folks who like him, who think he's doing a pretty good job under the circumstances, are afraid to speak out or are just not really outspoken types in general. Folks who don't really follow this stuff closely only hear the relentless noise of his detractors and go along with the crowd.

This isn't a comment on DU or the folks here who are disappointed with him or those here who defend him. In fact, I'm not even talking about DU. I see this trend all over. Loud, highly vocal rightwingers turn every single discussion into a chance to bash the President and the folks on the left either join in or stay quiet. You can't even read an article about a tv show or sports team without seeing nasty, anti-Obama comments in the comment section. Honestly, i'm surprised his approval rating isn't lower and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if next year at this time, we are sitting here wondering how we ended up with President Romney or President Gingrich.

I hate to sound so cynical, I just hardly ever hear anyone say anything nice about the man except for the few vocal supporters here. That doesn't bode well for November unless something changes and changes fast.