Public’s Malaise and Insecurity Translate Into Significant Shift in Political Landscape Since Start of the Obama Era
by Peter Wallsten
The Wall Street Journal
December 17, 2009
Support for the Democratic Party is slumping amid a wave of public discontent, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
The findings underscore how dramatically the political landscape has changed during the Obama administration’s first year. In January, voters were optimistic about the future, the new president enjoyed soaring approval ratings, and congressional leaders were set to swiftly pass his ambitious agenda.
In December’s survey, for the first time, less than half of Americans approved of the job Barack Obama is doing, marking a steeper first-year fall for this president than his recent predecessors…
…Democrats’ problems seem in part linked to their ambitious health-care plan, billed as the signature achievement of Mr. Obama’s first year. Now, for the first time, more people say they would prefer Congress do nothing on health care than those who want to see the overhaul enacted.
The article continues at WSJ.
