Asked to compare Barack Obama with George W. Bush, Americans are more inclined to say Obama has been a better (43%) rather than a worse (34%) president, with 22% seeing no difference between the two. Obama compares much less favorably to Bill Clinton, with half saying Obama has been worse than Clinton and 12% saying better.
These results are based on a Sept. 15-18 USA Today/Gallup poll. Obama succeeded Bush as president during a down economy that is still struggling to recover. Thus, a key comparison voters will make is whether Obama is doing better than his predecessor, which would enhance his chances of re-election, or worse than Bush, which makes it less likely Americans would reward him with a second term.
It could be argued that saying Obama has been about the same as Bush is also a negative evaluation, given that Bush left office with low approval ratings and Americans generally did not judge his presidency to be very successful.
Indeed, those who say Obama has been about the same as Bush generally view Obama negatively, with 27% approving and 62% disapproving of the way Obama is handling his job as president.
Thus, in order to win re-election, Obama likely needs to convince voters he is doing a better job than his predecessor did.
After the debate last night in Florida, unless another candidate enters the field, it looks like Mitt Romney will be the candidate that will limit President Obama to one term and one term only. With economic conditions the way they are nobody will buy the argument that Obama has been doing a better job than Bush.
Now, the Democratic Party is bringing out the “Big Dog” himself, former President Bill Clinton, to help defeat Republican Craig Huey.
Bill Clinton endorsed Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn on Monday, the latest big-name Democrat to formally support her House bid.
Hahn faces businessman Craig Huey (R) in the special-election runoff for former Rep. Jane Harman’s (D-Calif.) seat. Democrats have moved to circle the wagons around Hahn after Huey finished a surprise second in the May 17 jungle primary. In endorsing Hahn’s bid, Clinton joins a list that includes House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, among others.
“America is at a crossroads, and we need to decide whether we are going to pursue a path of right-wing extremism or one of compromise and common-sense solutions,” the former president said in a statement. “Janice has proven herself to be a champion for creating jobs, cleaning our environment, protecting a woman’s right to choose, and expanding access to healthcare. We need people like Janice Hahn in Congress, and I’m proud to endorse her.”
Note that this endorsement is aimed at moderate Democrats who might not be too happy about the California economy and who may stay home on special election day, July 12th. Clinton will also be writing a fundraising letter for Hahn but will not travel to campaign in the district prior to the election.
If this election tightens, don’t be surprised to see Vice President Biden or Michelle Obama make a campaign appearance. The Democrats do not want to take this seat for granted, particularly since the district will change in 2012 due to redistricting.
As many political pundits predicted before the November 2010 elections, Pesident Obama’s poll standings and re-election endeavors would IMPROVE should the GOP take over the House and win more U.S. Senate seats.
The latest Gallup Poll reveals this – although American voters want Obama to move ideologically to the right.
Recent Gallup polling finds Americans believing Obama’s leadership could be stronger — particularly with respect to bringing about changes the country needs. Americans are nevertheless more optimistic than not that he will do better a better job over the next two years, even though half expect no change in his performance. In fact, they are more optimistic that Obama, personally, will do a better job than they are about the prospects for government as a whole.
The economy’s direction over the duration of his term will be a major factor in how the public ultimately regards Obama. At this point, Americans are nearly as optimistic about the economy as they are about Obama, with net optimism exceeding 20 points for each. While the president’s ability to directly affect the economy is somewhat limited, he will have more control over how Americans view his political ideology. The new poll suggests that he would fare best on that score by adopting more conservative policies, rather than adopting more liberal ones or even standing still. With Republicans wielding more power on Capitol Hill, that could also help Obama satisfy Americans’ desire that Republican and Democratic leaders focus on finding common ground.
How does this work for the GOP in defeating Obama in 2012?
History show us with Bill Clinton’s re-election in 1996 after the GOP takeover of the House in 1994. Clinton’s move to the right and his triangulation worked.
When former President Bill Clinton took over the presser for President Obama the other day, I think America breathed a collective sigh of relief. Whether the Obama-GOP tax cut deal is good for the country will be decided by the financial markets in the months ahead. But, having Bubba there, the successful President, is reassuring since Obama has been a colossal failure.
Will journalists now be asking: What would Bill Clinton do – on every issue?
Or rather, is Hillary NOW available to run in 2012?
Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance at Obama’s side in the White House briefing room Friday.
“I don’t believe there is a better deal out there,” Clinton told reporters who’d been summoned at a moment’s notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in the Oval Office.
Obama said it was a “terrific meeting” and then turned the podium over to Clinton.
The voluble former president took it away, and Obama left part-way through his remarks, saying he had holiday parties to attend.
“Both sides are going to have to eat some things they don’t like,” Clinton told reporters. “We don’t want to slip back into a recession. We’ve got to keep this thing going and accelerate its pace. I think this is the best available option.”
Sheesh, now Obama is bringing in Bubba to do the triangulation for him.
I am increasingly skeptical of this Bush-Era Tax cut deal with President Obama.
When Harry Reid starts to add the pork over the weekend to the deal “framework,” the GOP should say thanks but no thanks.
The Republicans who gain control of the House and more Senate seats in January should vote to extend unemployment benefits for a short period of time (maybe three months) and vote for the continuing resolution to keep the government operating.
The Senate Republicans should then filibuster/block the rest of the lameduck seesion, knowing a better outcome will come with the new year.
As Democrats on the UCLA campus here are preparing for their big get-out-the-vote rally starring former President Bill Clinton, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. hopeful Gavin Newsom, the CA Republicans and the Meg Whitman campaign had a little bit of fun reminding folks that Brown and Clinton were not always such great buds.
So Team Whitman and the state GOP held a movie “premiere” at LA Live of “The Way We Were” this morning, starring the two Dems in some of their finer moments together in the 1992 presidential campaign.
Chris, isn’t it interesting that Bill Clinton is being asked by the Democratic Party to carry the heavy burden of the campaign and not President Obama and the Congressional leadership? It reminds me of Rahm Emanuel and his 2006 hide the ball plan to elect supposed “moderate” Democrat Congressman in “red” districts.
The Democrats are representing their party as being one of a southern moderate President who said the Era of Big Government was over – not the party of socialized medical care and disastrous, wasteful government spending. Why don’t the Democrats put Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank out on the stump?
Well, we know the answer.
President Clinton is at UCLA this morning to campaign for Jerry Brown who is running for California Governor. He will return this evening to campaign there for San Francisco Mayor “Any Twosome” Newsom who is running for Lt. Governor.
President Obama is coming to USC next Tuesday to campaign for Barbara Boxer.
Looks like Los Angeles County is a battleground area for the Democrats – a must win. Since it is a predominant “blue” voter area, they must be looking at their internal polls and worrying about turnout.
Unemployment is high in Los Angeles County with teacher, California state employee and unionized workers having been hit hard. The Democrats have to be concerned.
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