Anyone worried about more defense program cancellations or expanded bureaucratic control of the U.S. economy should note the improvement in President Obama’s job approval rating. After falling to the low 50s in late August, and stabilizing right around his 2008 vote of 52.9% through early October, it is now on the rise well above 53%, and his disapproval rating has fallen below 40% for the first time since early August. If these trends continue it will increase the odds his legislation will keep passing in Congress, and the Democrats will hold the Congress in the 2010 mid-term election.
Of equal note is the collapse of the GOP gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey. Democratic Governor Jon Corzine has Bush-like job approval ratings, but Obama remains popular in the Garden State. In recent days Corzine has begun producing the first polls with leads over Republican Chris Christie, and Christie’s overall lead has shrunk to one point in the RCP polling average (www.realclearpolitics.com).
Republican Bob McDonnell remains the heavy favorite in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, where President Obama’s approval rating is below 50 and McDonnell has steady, large leads in the polls.
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