From Obama, An Appeal to G.O.P. Rank and File

From Obama, An Appeal to G.O.P. Rank and File
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
Copyright by the New York Times
September 27, 2010, 9:29 am
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/from-obama-an-appeal-to-gop-rank-and-file/?hpw


One of the reasons that President Obama was elected nearly two years ago was his ability to attract independent voters, and even Republicans.

In an interview this morning, Mr. Obama appeared to recognize that he had lost many of those supporters from the other party. In an answer to a question from Matt Lauer of the “Today” show on NBC, he praised rank-and-file Republican voters.

“It’s clear I’ve got a very sharp difference with the Republicans on a lot of issues,” Mr. Obama said.

But then he caught himself, and added: “And when I say Republicans, I really should say the Republican leadership, because I think there are a lot of wonderful people out there who consider themselves Republicans or independents who have maybe some criticism of my administration but basically recognize we have got to solve big problems, we’ve got to be serious, we’ve got to base our decisions on facts.”

“What I’m seeing out of the Republican leadership over the last several years are a set of policies that are just irresponsible,” he said.

The distinction was reminiscent of diplomatic language that presidents of both parties often use to distinguish between differences with the leadership of a foreign adversary and the people of that country.

And it could be critical for Mr. Obama and his party as they face midterm elections in five weeks and a presidential re-election campaign that will begin next year.

Polls from numerous organizations have documented a steep slide in Mr. Obama’s approval ratings since he became president, including a defection among independent voters.

A CNN poll out this week has the president’s approval at just 42 percent, an all-time low for that survey. And a Politico survey suggests that, not quite midway through his first term, just 38 percent of voters said Mr. Obama deserved to be re-elected.