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29 July 2011

Obama approval drops to 41%

...according to Gallup.  But how does Gallup frame these stunningly low presidential approval numbers?  Obama Rates Higher Than Boehner, Reid on Debt Situation.


To be fair, their headline is true.  Boehner's approval is at 31; however, Harry "The ONLY compromise that there is is MINE" Reid's approval is at a whopping 23.

The Gallup headline makes it look like people support the Dems' plan more than the Republicans' plan.  With Reid's support at 23, that seems highly unlikely.  In fact, if you combine Obama and Reid's numbers, it comes at pretty damn close to Boehner.

Conclusions:
1. The only way to discern public support for different plans is to ask about those actual plans.
2. Gallup wants to contrast public opinion of Boehner vs. Obama, as if the power and perception of the president and the speaker of the house were comparably important.
3. The most important contrast here is Boehner vs. Reid, but Gallup chose not to highlight that in their headline.  Hmm.  I wonder why.
4.  The second most important contrast here is Obama's current approval rating compared to his previous (higher) approval rating, but Gallup chose not to highlight that in their headline.  Hmm.  I wonder why.

ADDED: Obama Approval Drops to New Low of 40%

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