Obama’s Popularity Reaches Low, Romney Would Beat Him

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Dec 13, 2010   |   12:24PM   |   Washington, DC

A new survey from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion shows pro-abortion President Barack Obama’s popularity has reached a new low and potential opponent Mitt Romney would defeat him.

The survey shows Obama is losing support with his base — Democrats and liberals — who are frustrated with his lack of progress on their key issues.

Obama has also alienated Republican and independent voters with his push for a government-run health care system and taxpayer funding of abortions.

“He’s having the worst of both worlds right now,” Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist Institute, told McClatchy newspapers. “As he moves to the center, he’s not picking up support among independents and he’s having some fall-off among his base. If his strategy is to gain independents and keep the Democrats in tow, it isn’t working so far.”

The poll, taken during the first week of December, shows just 42 percent of voters approve of the job Obama is doing while 50 percent disapprove.

Among Democrats, Obama’s numbers have dropped from 83 percent a month ago to 74 percent today with the number disapproving of his job performance rising from 11 to 21 percent. With liberals, Obama dropped from 78 percent to 69 percent while his disapproval rose from 14 to 22 percent.

Independents disapprove of Obama by a 52-39 percentage point margin — which remains unchanged from a month ago.

Obama’s numbers are so low that he would be defeated in a hypothetical matchup with Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who ran as a pro-life candidate in the 2008 Republican presidential primary.

Romney would defeat Obama 46-44 percent if the election were held today, with the rest of those responding saying they’re undecided. The former governor is aided by the 47-39 percent lead he has against Obama with independent voters.

Against pro-life former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Obama would win 52-40 percent but he leads pro-life former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee by a smaller 47-43 percentage point margin.

Independents back Obama over Palin 52-35 percent and Obama over Huckabee 42-40 percent.

“In head-to-head matchups, it’s the independents who seem to be shaping the early discussion,” Miringoff said. “We have a lot of polarization. And the middle is in its classic position of being the swing vote.”

Meanwhile, a new Bloomberg poll released today shows more Americans say Obama doesn’t deserve a second term than say he does — by a 45-42 percentage point margin.

Another 9 percent are unsure and four percent say it depends on the candidate facing Obama.

Unless the economy turns around significantly, Obama is expected to face a tough re-election campaign. With ObamaCare and abortion promotion, his numbers have already tanked and he will face difficult challenges from Republicans next year as they pass legislation and challenge Obama and Senate Democrats to approve or defeat it.

As Republicans begin the process of selecting an opponent, Obama will face tough criticism on numerous fronts from a large group of candidates all wanting to highlight the ways in which they believe he has failed the country.

On the other hand, Obama will be helped by the fact that he will not likely face a major primary election opponent — and he will be able to marshal his political and financial resources behind his re-election effort.