Poll: Majority Disapprove of Obama’s Performance On Health Care

President Barack Obama
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The new AP/GfK poll today, coming out just as President Obama is about to address Congress on health care, finds that he’s coming into the debate in a weak position.

Obama’s approval on his handling of health care right now is only 42%, with 52% disapproval on health care.

This other question should concern Democrats: “If President Obama and the Democrats in Congress are unable to win support from Republicans to pass a health care plan this year, what should they do?” The numbers: Go ahead and pass a bill without Republican support, 28%; Keep trying until they are able to make a deal with the Republicans, 66%.

Looking at this number, it’s clear that the burden on Obama and the Democrats at this point is to demonstrate clearly through tonight’s speech and the following events that Republicans won’t make a deal. If that case isn’t made, there really might not be enough political capital to withstand the potential fallout from a Dems-only bill.

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: