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New polls confirm Obama's Democratic base crumbles

Taylor

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Granted this is about as telling as a 10 point advantage in the 3rd quarter of a basketball game, but I'm sure it has the Obama camp rattled.

Obama is running for the center already, aiming for the independents who played such a crucial role in his victorious coalition in 2008. They were the first to start abandoning the good ship Obama back in 2009 when all the ex-state senator could do was talk about healthcare, when jobs and the economy were the peoples' priority.

Now, comes a new ABC News/Washington Post poll with a whole harvest of revelations, among them, strong indications that Obama's liberal base is starting to crumble.
New polls confirm Obama's Democratic base crumbles - latimes.com

So, as Obama moves to the center to try to regain some of those votes, he's losing a lot of people on the left who feel they elected a liberal to be a liberal.

Some of the high points:
  • Strong support among liberal Democrats for Obama's jobs record has plummeted 22 points from 53% down below a third.
  • Vermont's Sen. Bernie Sanders: "I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition."
  • Obama enjoyed heavy support in Western and Midwestern states in 2008, but those margins have disappeared. Strong support for Obama remains only in the Northeast.
Economy
  • 90% rate the economy negatively (bad news if it's "all about the economy, stupid")
  • Obama's overall job approval on the economy has slid below 40% for the first time, with 57% disapproving.
Black Voters
  • African Americans who believe the president's measures helped the economy have plunged from 77% to barely half
  • Despite deteriorating confidence, polls suggest most would still vote for Obama.
Jewish Voters
  • Gallup: Obama's Jewish support has been dropping the longer he's in office. That makes Jewish voters just like the rest of the average voting population, which ain't so enthused with Obama.
  • A controversial McLaughlin poll of Jewish voters suggests that of those who voted for Obama in 2008, 64 percent said they still have a favorable opinion of the president overall, but only 43 percent said they would vote for him again.
White Voters
  • A seven-point Democratic advantage among whites under age 30 three years ago has turned into an 11-point GOP advantage today.
  • A 15-point Democratic advantage among whites earning less than $30,000 annually has swung to a slim four-point Republican edge today.
  • Overall, his support among white voters has evaporated. In 2008, Obama enjoyed an advantage among whites who were (in order of strength): Low Income (+15), Northeastern (+12), Catholic (+8), under 30 (+7), Midwestern (+3), Western (+2), and college grads (+1). Obama now trails in every category except by the slimmest margin among those that live in the Northeast (+1).
 
Well when abandon your base and pander to giant corporations and Wall Street, those of us on the Left will abandon you. No big surprise, really.
 
I understand that the hardcore left is losing interest in Obama due to his willingness to compromise with the right, however, at the end of the day, those people, much like the Tea Party people who are pissed off at the GOP for working with Obama, will have no other option than to vote for him or vote for a republican. (We know that ain't never gonna happen.)

The same could be said for the Teabaggers. They can rant and rave and piss and moan all they want but at the end of the day, they will still vote republican, just like the whacko left will still vote democrat.
 
I understand that the hardcore left is losing interest in Obama due to his willingness to compromise with the right, however, at the end of the day, those people, much like the Tea Party people who are pissed off at the GOP for working with Obama, will have no other option than to vote for him or vote for a republican. (We know that ain't never gonna happen.)

The same could be said for the Teabaggers. They can rant and rave and piss and moan all they want but at the end of the day, they will still vote republican, just like the whacko left will still vote democrat.

i'm not sure i will vote.
 
Also interesting to note:
  • Party identification among Democrats has fallen from a very high 38% in '08 to 34%
  • Party identification among Repubicans remains very low at 28%, remaining flat since support dropped in '06.
  • Independent party identification has surged since '04, climbing to 34% from 27% - Pew research suggests this is the highest level of independent party identification since party ID was first measured in 1930.

Should underscore why Republicans are trying to take a strong stance on fiscal conservatism - they realize they're just being used right now until they can prove themselves worthy of support again.
 
Also interesting to note:
  • Party identification among Democrats has fallen from a very high 38% in '08 to 34%
  • Party identification among Repubicans remains very low at 28%, remaining flat since support dropped in '06.
  • Independent party identification has surged since '04, climbing to 34% from 27% - Pew research suggests this is the highest level of independent party identification since party ID was first measured in 1930.

Should underscore why Republicans are trying to take a strong stance on fiscal conservatism - they realize they're just being used right now until they can prove themselves worthy of support again.

Republicans are like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. Just when they have you convinced they won't pull the ball out from under you again, Arrrgggghhhh!

"Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." No truer words were ever spoken. I know that, here in Wisconsin, we learned our lesson. But how long will we remember it?
 
I understand that the hardcore left is losing interest in Obama due to his willingness to compromise with the right, however, at the end of the day, those people, much like the Tea Party people who are pissed off at the GOP for working with Obama, will have no other option than to vote for him or vote for a republican. (We know that ain't never gonna happen.)

I've posted the links elsewhere and will again if need be. One of the reasons McCain lost is because of his very weak support from the Tea Party. They may not vote for Obama but their support certainly is not a given.

The same could be said for the Teabaggers. They can rant and rave and piss and moan all they want but at the end of the day, they will still vote republican, just like the whacko left will still vote democrat.

I voted for neither Obama or McCain. I couldn't stomach either.
 
Eh.....only confirms that the right-wings attempts to paint Obama as a "liberal" or a "socialist" are nothing but a bunch of lies. Those of us on the left, knew coming into this that Obama was a moderate at best. I'm sure a few people were fooled by the right-wing, but those of us in the know voted with that understanding. Obama is still a hell of a lot better than anything that the GOP has to offer, so I suspect that despite what this poll suggests, the left will support Obama come election time.
 
Eh.....only confirms that the right-wings attempts to paint Obama as a "liberal" or a "socialist" are nothing but a bunch of lies.
He is a liberal... are you going to argue he's a conservative or a libertarian?

Those of us on the left, knew coming into this that Obama was a moderate at best. I'm sure a few people were fooled by the right-wing, but those of us in the know voted with that understanding. Obama is still a hell of a lot better than anything that the GOP has to offer, so I suspect that despite what this poll suggests, the left will support Obama come election time.

I don't think this fools anyone dd.
 
Eh.....only confirms that the right-wings attempts to paint Obama as a "liberal" or a "socialist" are nothing but a bunch of lies. Those of us on the left, knew coming into this that Obama was a moderate at best. I'm sure a few people were fooled by the right-wing, but those of us in the know voted with that understanding. Obama is still a hell of a lot better than anything that the GOP has to offer, so I suspect that despite what this poll suggests, the left will support Obama come election time.
There's the question of who you'd vote for given just two choices, and the question of whether you bother to vote at all. Disgruntled voter don't flock to the polls unless it's because theyREALLY hate the alternative.
 
Eh.....only confirms that the right-wings attempts to paint Obama as a "liberal" or a "socialist" are nothing but a bunch of lies. Those of us on the left, knew coming into this that Obama was a moderate at best. I'm sure a few people were fooled by the right-wing, but those of us in the know voted with that understanding. Obama is still a hell of a lot better than anything that the GOP has to offer, so I suspect that despite what this poll suggests, the left will support Obama come election time.
There's the question of who you'd vote for given just two choices, and the question of whether you bother to vote at all. Disgruntled voter don't flock to the polls unless it's because theyREALLY hate the alternative.
 
I understand that the hardcore left is losing interest in Obama due to his willingness to compromise with the right, however, at the end of the day, those people, much like the Tea Party people who are pissed off at the GOP for working with Obama, will have no other option than to vote for him or vote for a republican. (We know that ain't never gonna happen.)

The same could be said for the Teabaggers. They can rant and rave and piss and moan all they want but at the end of the day, they will still vote republican, just like the whacko left will still vote democrat.

That's correct, IMO, and more importantly, by behaving like the only adult in the room, Obama should pick up critical support among independents.
 
i'm not sure i will vote.
Really? What horrible things has Obama done that have inspired to make it easier for a Republican to ruin the country faster?
 
I salute the GOP for fighting Obama, tooth and nail, on the budget. Memories of the 'nuclear option', by which the Democrats passed Obamacare, demand revenge. NO GOP COOPERATION WITH OBAMA, PERIOD.
 
I cant fathom the Obama base voting for a republican. The trick will be wether they can inspire enough to bother to vote. I suspect they will, primarily because the republicans wont be able to get enough excitement out of their voters to come out in droves either.
 
i'm not sure i will vote.

That's always a problem, which is reason there is often apndering to those who will vote.

But, wh knew the socialist was left enough?

:coffeepap
 
I understand that the hardcore left is losing interest in Obama due to his willingness to compromise with the right, however, at the end of the day, those people, much like the Tea Party people who are pissed off at the GOP for working with Obama, will have no other option than to vote for him or vote for a republican. (We know that ain't never gonna happen.)

The same could be said for the Teabaggers. They can rant and rave and piss and moan all they want but at the end of the day, they will still vote republican, just like the whacko left will still vote democrat.

Eh.....only confirms that the right-wings attempts to paint Obama as a "liberal" or a "socialist" are nothing but a bunch of lies. Those of us on the left, knew coming into this that Obama was a moderate at best. I'm sure a few people were fooled by the right-wing, but those of us in the know voted with that understanding. Obama is still a hell of a lot better than anything that the GOP has to offer, so I suspect that despite what this poll suggests, the left will support Obama come election time.

I believe there is one of two things, or both at the same time, happening here.

People who considered themselves Liberals, are finding out that they're not nearly as Liberal as they thought, and/or they're learning that Liberalism is a ****ing lie.
 
i'm not sure i will vote.

Well, you've already elected a black dude for president, so there's no need. I mean, you've already admitted that you voted for Obama because he's black.
 
i'm not sure i will vote.

Vote Libertarian...poke the two parties in the eye (Wayne Root is actually a decent candidate and looks to be the Libertarian candidate). Or vote some other goofy third party. If the parties see people turning to other alternatives they might stop taking the vote for granted.
 
Vote Libertarian...poke the two parties in the eye (Wayne Root is actually a decent candidate and looks to be the Libertarian candidate). Or vote some other goofy third party. If the parties see people turning to other alternatives they might stop taking the vote for granted.
That's an interesting alternative. If you're not going to vote for the party you normally vote for, at least vote for something you do believe in.
 
There's the question of who you'd vote for given just two choices, and the question of whether you bother to vote at all. Disgruntled voter don't flock to the polls unless it's because theyREALLY hate the alternative.

Trust me....those on the left will very likely hate anyone the GOP puts up....unless the reasonable wing of the GOP is able to regain control of their party from the radical right-wing.
 
I've posted the links elsewhere and will again if need be. One of the reasons McCain lost is because of his very weak support from the Tea Party. They may not vote for Obama but their support certainly is not a given.

That seems like a weak reason compared to merely being a Republican coming out of the Bush years. Any Republican would have had a real issue in the 2008 election for the simple fact they were a Republican.
 
Trust me....those on the left will very likely hate anyone the GOP puts up....unless the reasonable wing of the GOP is able to regain control of their party from the radical right-wing.

Hell the way the GOP is handling this Debt thing without compromise, Im ready to vote for Obama. Boehner is making an ass out of the GOP. They dont look strong.... they look like fools.
 
John Stossel's recent street interviews showed that a majority of people have no clue about what is going on in Gov. and yet they vote and participate in polls that are reported as being meaningful.

I have said for years before I retired that the issues have become too complex for general public to comprehend, because they either don't care or don't have the time to do the research needed to make informed decisions.

Bur even knowing this there comes a time when the preponderance of eveidence begins to take it's toll.

It's about that time, fianally.
 
Eh.....only confirms that the right-wings attempts to paint Obama as a "liberal" or a "socialist" are nothing but a bunch of lies. Those of us on the left, knew coming into this that Obama was a moderate at best. I'm sure a few people were fooled by the right-wing, but those of us in the know voted with that understanding. Obama is still a hell of a lot better than anything that the GOP has to offer, so I suspect that despite what this poll suggests, the left will support Obama come election time.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up for me. Having read up on Obama before the election, I already knew he was a pragmatic centrist. Problem was, the only credible opponent was even worse.

And judging by the potential candidates so far, Obama will once again be the lesser of evils in 2012.
 
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