Barack Obama Hits New Low Approval Rating, Analyst Says Abortion Causing It

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 31, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Barack Obama Hits New Low Approval Rating, Analyst Says Abortion Causing It

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 31
, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The news story has repeated itself over and over again: President Barack Obama has hit another new low approval rating. One analyst knows why and says the issue of taxpayer-funding of abortions in the health care bills in Congress is hurting Obama’s numbers.

The Rasmussen Reports daily presidential tracking poll released today reveals 46% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance as president while 53 percent now disapprove.

The 46 percent figure is the lowest level of total approval yet measured for Obama in the Rasmussen poll since he took over the White House in January.

The new survey also shows 30% of the nation’s voters strongly approve of Obama’s performance while 41 percent strongly disapprove — giving Obama a negative 11 percent rating among the most passionate voters on either side.

Dr. Michael New, a political science professor at the University of Alabama, explains how the more Americans realize that Obama’s health care plan includes taxpayer abortion funding the more people oppose him.

"Regardless of their views on sanctity of life issues, many Americans do not want their tax dollars subsidizing abortion," he says in a new National Review column. "As such, mandated abortion coverage has the ability to jeopardize health-care reform by driving a wedge between moderate voters and President Obama’s liberal base."

"President Obama is vulnerable on the abortion issue," New continues.

"When running for president, Barack Obama realized his position on abortion was a political liability. As such, he shifted his rhetoric to appeal to moderate voters — often speaking about reducing the need for abortion," he explained.

"However, as president he has instead pursued policies of subsidizing abortion at home and abroad through repealing both the Mexico City Policy and the Dornan Amendment," New adds.

"Now these are both relatively obscure policy decisions," the political scientist says. "However, subsidizing abortion in a high-profile, high-visibility policy initiative like health-care reform may well prove to be politically costly."

The new Rasmussen poll out today finds 81 percent of Democrats approve of Obama’s performance while 83% of Republicans disapprove.

As for those not affiliated with either major party, 66% disapprove — a huge figure that could cost Obama and abortion advocates in the 2010 elections and lead to the defeat of the pro-abortion government-run health care plan.

Rasmussen Reports job approval ratings are based upon a sample of likely voters while some other firms base their approval ratings on samples of all adults.

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