Obama’s Low Approval Rating Casts Shadow Over Democratic Races

… This year many Democratic candidates find their future is in somebody else’s hands — namely Barack Obama’s. Handicapper Nathan Gonzales of the Rothenberg Political Report says Obama’s sagging popularity is casting a long shadow over his fellow Democrats. “If the president’s job approval rating was 5 or 10 points […] Read more »

In a Partisan Atmosphere, It Can Even Be Hard to Find Numbers That Agree

Since his second term began, President Obama has had a solid answer to Republicans’ “Where are the jobs?” complaint. The jobless rate has fallen two full percentage points. Yet Mr. Obama’s own ratings have fallen, too. So has public confidence that the economy is getting better, even as the economy […] Read more »

After this election, expect more, not less, confrontation

… “The most important challenge the party faces is restoring its brand in the eyes of the voters,” said John Feehery, a former aide to Newt Gingrich. “If we don’t restore our brand by getting stuff done, we’ll be handing the White House to Hillary Clinton.” That means compromise and […] Read more »