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**SzefciuCba** · 09-09-2010, 09:25 PM

As has been the case throughout the recession, Democrats in Congress are drawing dismal approval numbers. But another statistical reality doesn't get as much press: The only thing polling lower than Democrats is.... Republicans.

Gallup:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/142898/Jo...-Congress.aspx

Americans' frustration with Congress is directed at both sides of the aisle -- with job approval ratings of 33% for the Democrats in Congress and 32% for the Republicans in Congress.

Both parties' ratings are on the low end of what Gallup has measured since the question was first asked in 1999. The Democratic Party's current job approval rating is just three points above its low of 30% measured in December 2007. The historical low rating for congressional Republicans is 25% in December 2008.

Since early 2009, approval of the Democrats has generally trended downward, while the Republican approval rating has been mostly flat. This has resulted in a fairly notable situation in which the two parties in Congress currently receive similar ratings.

Over time, Americans have tended to give the Democrats in Congress at least slightly more positive ratings than the Republicans in Congress. This has been the case when the Democrats were in the majority as well as when they were in the minority; thus, being the majority party is not an obvious liability when it comes to these ratings.

The Democrats' typically higher ratings likely reflect that a larger number of Americans have historically identified as Democrats than as Republicans. People who identify with a party tend to rate that party's congressional delegation more positively, which is the case in the current poll. Also, in Gallup's rolling three-day sample, Obama's job approval has taken a decided swing upward from recent weeks, now clocking a dead heat of 46/46. This tracks in line with a new swing upward for Democrats in the generic Congressional poll.

From a historical perspective, Obama's approval ranks lower than both Bush Sr. and Jr. at this point in their presidencies, but higher than Reagan and Clinton, both of whom went on to easily win re-election two years later.

09-09-2010, 09:25 PM	#1
SzefciuCba Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 544 Senior Member	Gallup: Obama approval rises to 46/46; Both parties rank well below As has been the case throughout the recession, Democrats in Congress are drawing dismal approval numbers. But another statistical reality doesn't get as much press: The only thing polling lower than Democrats is.... Republicans. Gallup: http://www.gallup.com/poll/142898/Jo...-Congress.aspx Americans' frustration with Congress is directed at both sides of the aisle -- with job approval ratings of 33% for the Democrats in Congress and 32% for the Republicans in Congress. Both parties' ratings are on the low end of what Gallup has measured since the question was first asked in 1999. The Democratic Party's current job approval rating is just three points above its low of 30% measured in December 2007. The historical low rating for congressional Republicans is 25% in December 2008. Since early 2009, approval of the Democrats has generally trended downward, while the Republican approval rating has been mostly flat. This has resulted in a fairly notable situation in which the two parties in Congress currently receive similar ratings. Over time, Americans have tended to give the Democrats in Congress at least slightly more positive ratings than the Republicans in Congress. This has been the case when the Democrats were in the majority as well as when they were in the minority; thus, being the majority party is not an obvious liability when it comes to these ratings. The Democrats' typically higher ratings likely reflect that a larger number of Americans have historically identified as Democrats than as Republicans. People who identify with a party tend to rate that party's congressional delegation more positively, which is the case in the current poll. Also, in Gallup's rolling three-day sample, Obama's job approval has taken a decided swing upward from recent weeks, now clocking a dead heat of 46/46. This tracks in line with a new swing upward for Democrats in the generic Congressional poll. From a historical perspective, Obama's approval ranks lower than both Bush Sr. and Jr. at this point in their presidencies, but higher than Reagan and Clinton, both of whom went on to easily win re-election two years later.
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