CNN Poll: Obama More Popular Than Ever, Despite Speed Bumps

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

A new national poll suggests that Barack Obama is more popular than ever, regardless of recent speed bumps on the road to transition. The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Sunday morning also indicates that most Americans see Obama's inauguration as a chance for the nation to come together.

Eighty-four percent of those questioned in the survey say they approve of how Barack Obama is handling his presidential transition. That is up two points from the middle of December and up five points from the beginning of December.

The rise in approval also comes after a series of missteps in the Obama transition the past few weeks — situations that have included New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announcing that he was withdrawing his nomination as commerce secretary, calling a federal grand jury investigation in his home state a distraction; the disclosure of Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner's failure to pay $34,000 in taxes, and some initial pushback by Republicans and even some Democrats to the naming of Leon Panetta as CIA director.

"If the public is blaming Obama for those missteps, it isn't registering in his approval rating," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "You know the country is in the middle of a honeymoon when six in 10 Republicans have a positive view of Obama."...

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/18/cnn-poll-obama-more-popular-than-ever-despite-some-speed-bumps/#more-36110

[Selatius]

1. He should use that political capital to beat Republicans over the head with.

If they want to filibuster all reform proposals, just paint them as a bunch of obstructionists and then when finished, ramrod the bill through and cut deals with a small number of moderate Republicans in the Senate to defuse filibusters.

[TheWraith]

3. If he beat Republicans over the head with it, he wouldn't have those numbers.

A big part of that 84% is the moderate Republicans being grateful that he's not humiliating them for having supported Bush. The way to take advantage of it is simply to ride his proposals through on public opinion: put the "Obama brand" on them and give them the benefit of his popularity.

[Roy]

2. Speed Bumps? Missteps? ha haha........

Speed Bumps, Missteps = negative spin

We are losing our credibility cries the MSM!

[bluestateguy]

4. Thank. God. This man will be the president.

nt