OBAMA HITS HIS ALL-TIME BOTTOM AGAIN IN RASMUSSEN POLL – AT 10:16 A.M. ET:  As we anticipate tomorrow's health-care vote in the House, President Obama is being greeted by a wave of popular disapproval, as reported by Scott Rasmussen:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-four percent (44%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21. That matches the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President (see trends).

Each time the President leads a big push for his health care plan, his job approval ratings suffer. While some portions of the plan are popular, others are not.

And...

Overall, 43% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That also matches the lowest level yet recorded for this President. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove.

COMMENT:  I'd be cautious about these figures.  If the president's bill passes tomorrow, and he can sign it into law, public opinion, which is fickle, might change.  On the one hand, public anger toward the president can grow, as the American people look forward to federally managed care.  On the other hand, there may be a tendency to say, "All right, it passed.  Let's get behind it and give it a chance."

Also, polls show that Mitt Romney is the front runner for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012.  He's the "next in line," which, sadly, is how the Republicans often nominate their presidential candidates.  Although it's very early in the game, I don't see Romney as a particularly strong candidate, although that could change by 2012.  There is no Reagan in the wings, and it may take a Reagan to defeat an Obama in campaign mode.

March 20,  2010