Public support for Barack Obama is slipping on the major issues likely to define his presidency, particularly healthcare reform with approval dropping below 50% for the first time.
According to a Washington Post poll published today, voter confidence in Obama on other key issues, such as the economy, unemployment and the huge budget deficit, is also slipping.
The president's overall rating remains strong with 59% of those polled generally approving of his leadership. Nonetheless that is six points down on a month ago.
The growing political fight over healthcare reform appears to be taking its toll on Obama's ratings as support for him on the issue fell to 49% from 57% in April. Opposition to his proposals rose sharply, from 29% to 44%, as accusations that the president's plan for comprehensive access to health insurance amounts to socialism that will lead to the government choosing people's doctors, more taxes and increase the national deficit have had an impact. However, health reform is still strongly backed among Democrats and those earning less than $50,000 a year.
There has also been a major shift since Obama took office in January against the government attempting to spend its way out of recession. At the beginning of the year, a little more than half of voters supported federal spending to revive the economy. That has fallen sharply, to 40%, while a significant majority now believes it is more important to avoid increasing the budget deficit.
The increased spending has also undermined Obama's attempts to portray himself as a new type of Democratic president. Four months ago, two out of three Americans saw him as careful with the public's money and a break from the old-style tax and spend Democrats. Now, the numbers are much closer with only 52% having such confidence.
Chris McGreal, The Guadian, 7/20/09
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