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President Obama in Trouble as Economy Remains Top Issue

A Gallup survey out this week finds that the economy is still the top concern of voters, which spells trouble for President Obama and Washington Democrats, whose economic policies have failed: 

“Some six months before voters head to the polls to choose the next president of the United States, Gallup finds several indicators of the economic and political climate holding steady at levels that could be troublesome for President Barack Obama. According to Gallup polling in early May, Obama's approval rating is below 50%, Americans' satisfaction with the direction of the country is barely above 20%, and the economy remains a dominant concern…

“Comparing today's economic and political ratings with those from previous years when presidents sought re-election reveals that today's climate is more similar to years when incumbents lost than when they won. 

“Perhaps the broadest indicator of the public's mood comes from Gallup's satisfaction measure, which asks Americans if they are satisfied or dissatisfied with ‘the way things are going in the United States at this time.’ The 24% of Americans currently satisfied is most similar to the 20% recorded in May 1992 during George H.W. Bush's first and only term. Bush was also the only sitting president of the last four to lose his re-election bid.....

“The extent of Americans' concern about the economy -- as evident in their top-of-mind mentions of it as the nation's ‘most important problem’ -- is greater today than for any president seeking re-election since Jimmy Carter in 1980. The current 66% mentioning one or more economic concerns is substantially higher than it was in May 2004 or May 1996, and moderately higher than at the same point in 1992 and 1984....President Obama is running for re-election with Americans feeling about as dissatisfied with the country and the economy as they were in 1992 when George H.W. Bush lost.”

The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin noted that: 

“In short, so long as the economy is the source of great dissatisfaction, President Obama remains at risk. Or to put it differently, despite the Obama campaign's best efforts, the voters are assessing him based on the economy’s performance. It is, in short, a referendum election.”

That mirrors what Speaker Boehner has been saying: “This election is going to be about President Barack Obama's economic policies. They failed. Matter of fact, I'd argue they made things worse.”  

Learn more about House Republican efforts to create economic growth and job creation at TeamBoehner.com.