Here at the WPA Political Insider Journal we’ve written about a number of the subjects that could be summed up as the honeymoon issues for President Obama. We’ve touched on the stimulus package, various bailout proposals and the media’s coverage of the same. And while the President still very much enjoys a honeymoon there are a few issues where that isn’t the case. Check out the latest findings from a recent Gallup poll.
56% oppose President Obama on the issue of Guantanamo and 65% disapprove of his lifting the executive order that banned spending federal funds for abortions in overseas clinics. What is interesting is that while one would expect all of these issues to follow significant splits across party lines, Obama actually gets a majority of support from even Republicans on all these issues but the last three. In the chart below also notice how the Guantanamo and abortion issues lose a significant number of Democrats.
Much has been made about the recent success Democrats have had in bringing some conservative Democrats back to the party. President Obama should tread lightly on these and other similar issues or risk losing much of this segment again. As Obama’s administration continues to take shape it will be interesting to see how some of the more partisan issues that often pass for so much of the conventional wisdom actually plays out among the public.
President Obama’s Honeymoon
Posted by WPA Research on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Here at the WPA Political Insider Journal we’ve written about a number of the subjects that could be summed up as the honeymoon issues for President Obama. We’ve touched on the stimulus package, various bailout proposals and the media’s coverage of the same. And while the President still very much enjoys a honeymoon there are a few issues where that isn’t the case. Check out the latest findings from a recent Gallup poll.
56% oppose President Obama on the issue of Guantanamo and 65% disapprove of his lifting the executive order that banned spending federal funds for abortions in overseas clinics. What is interesting is that while one would expect all of these issues to follow significant splits across party lines, Obama actually gets a majority of support from even Republicans on all these issues but the last three. In the chart below also notice how the Guantanamo and abortion issues lose a significant number of Democrats.
Much has been made about the recent success Democrats have had in bringing some conservative Democrats back to the party. President Obama should tread lightly on these and other similar issues or risk losing much of this segment again. As Obama’s administration continues to take shape it will be interesting to see how some of the more partisan issues that often pass for so much of the conventional wisdom actually plays out among the public.