Chris Good
The Atlantic
3/10/2010
When President Obama stumps for health reform in Missouri today, some bad polling numbers will be waiting there to greet him. Unfortunately for Democrats, that’s not just the case in Missouri: in states with competitive Senate races in 2010, Obama typically collects worse ratings than he does nationally.
In a competitive midterm year, the threat looms that Obama’s low ratings will weigh Democratic candidates down.
A whopping 58 percent of Missourians disapprove of the president, while just 41 percent approve, making it one of his worst among states that will see competitive Senate races in 2010. In those states, Obama collects only a few showings above 45 percent. In three states (California, Delaware, and Pennsylvania) his approval rating is higher than his disapproval, and in three states (Kentucky, Arkansas, and North Dakota) his approval rating is below 40 percent.
Obama’s national approval rating, according to Pollster.com’s average, is 48 percent. Obama lost Missouri to John McCain by 3,903 votes in 2008, accounting for a .1 percent difference and making it one of the closest contests of the presidential race.
The article continues at The Atlantic.
