Michael Gaynor
Who votes based on race now?
By Michael Gaynor
Are the black voters staying with President Obama because he's brought prosperity?
The Los Angeles Times reports:
"The good news for President Obama is his popular support among blacks is holding steady at 91%.
"The bad news is no other group of potential voters likes him that much.
"In fact, 29 days before his first midterm elections, the Democrat's approval ratings remain mired below 50%.
"A new Gallup Poll this morning finds his approval rating for September was 45%, almost the same as August's 44%. Obama's not exceeded the crucial 50% level in a single month so far this year.
"Since Obama's name is not on any ballot Nov. 2, the proportions of Americans who like or dislike the fellow on Oct. 1 of a midterm election year shouldn't matter, in theory. However, history indicates otherwise.
"Presidents with approval ratings below 50% at midterm time see their party suffer substantial losses in its congressional membership, regardless of how much explaining and blaming the president attempts in the campaign leading up to what becomes, in effect, a referendum on the president."
Is what was called "good news" for President Obama also "good news" for America?
Is what was called "bad news" for President Obama greatly understated?
As Barbara Walters recently reminded President Obama, his father was black and his mother was white, so he's half-black and half-white.
Polls show that President Obama is doing 55% better with blacks than whites (91% to 36%).
That's a big difference.
Why is President Obama doing so much better with blacks than whites and does that reflect well or badly on him, blacks and whites?
Polls show that President Obama's support among both whites and Hispanics has dropped significantly, while his support among blacks has not.
What does all this tell us about race-based voting?
Are the whites and Hispanics who no longer support President Obama now opposing him because he's half-black and they just discovered it?
Are the black voters staying with President Obama because he's brought prosperity?
We report, you decide.
© Michael Gaynor
October 5, 2010
Are the black voters staying with President Obama because he's brought prosperity?
The Los Angeles Times reports:
"The good news for President Obama is his popular support among blacks is holding steady at 91%.
"The bad news is no other group of potential voters likes him that much.
"In fact, 29 days before his first midterm elections, the Democrat's approval ratings remain mired below 50%.
"A new Gallup Poll this morning finds his approval rating for September was 45%, almost the same as August's 44%. Obama's not exceeded the crucial 50% level in a single month so far this year.
"Since Obama's name is not on any ballot Nov. 2, the proportions of Americans who like or dislike the fellow on Oct. 1 of a midterm election year shouldn't matter, in theory. However, history indicates otherwise.
"Presidents with approval ratings below 50% at midterm time see their party suffer substantial losses in its congressional membership, regardless of how much explaining and blaming the president attempts in the campaign leading up to what becomes, in effect, a referendum on the president."
Is what was called "good news" for President Obama also "good news" for America?
Is what was called "bad news" for President Obama greatly understated?
As Barbara Walters recently reminded President Obama, his father was black and his mother was white, so he's half-black and half-white.
Polls show that President Obama is doing 55% better with blacks than whites (91% to 36%).
That's a big difference.
Why is President Obama doing so much better with blacks than whites and does that reflect well or badly on him, blacks and whites?
Polls show that President Obama's support among both whites and Hispanics has dropped significantly, while his support among blacks has not.
What does all this tell us about race-based voting?
Are the whites and Hispanics who no longer support President Obama now opposing him because he's half-black and they just discovered it?
Are the black voters staying with President Obama because he's brought prosperity?
We report, you decide.
© Michael Gaynor
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