As the president issues his proposed new federal budget, Americans are more likely to say they have “a great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence that he (57%) will recommend the right things for the U.S. economy than they do in Democratic (48%) or Republican (39%) leaders in Congress or […] Read more »
Did Obama Lose Votes Because of His Race?
Most observers, with the exception of those who fervently believe in a “colorblind” America, accept the role race plays in perceptions of Barack Obama. His blackness influences supporters—generating enthusiasm for his candidacy—and detractors, from right-wing provocateurs like Rush Limbaugh, to left-wing critics like Cornel West. If there’s still an open […] Read more »
Obama at 51% approval but lower on key issues
As President Barack Obama begins what could be a pivotal week, with gun control, immigration reform and border security, and the budget all in the spotlight, a new national survey indicates the president’s approval rating has inched above the 50% mark. But according to a CNN/ORC International poll released Monday, […] Read more »
The price of defying your base
Defying your base is always risky. It can either bring you down — or it can make you look stronger. Right now, politicians in both parties are trying to pull it off. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) – a likely contender for the 2016 Republican nomination – is preparing to challenge […] Read more »
The Second-Term Jinx
Pretend for a moment that you are President Obama, his chief of staff, his counselor, or another top adviser. The question before you is how to avoid the fate of so many other second-term presidencies. … Bad things seem to happen during second terms in the White House. Beyond the […] Read more »
Public still anxious over economy, has little faith in Washington
President Barack Obama’s job approval rating is a so-so 50 percent, as Americans continue to have serious concerns about whether the country is headed in the right direction, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll. People want a speedier, more robust economic recovery, and they’re sick of the bickering that’s characterized […] Read more »