How much do you blame Pres. Obama for struggling economy?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With the Dow tanking nearly 400 points on Thursday, it looks like Americans are more likely than ever to blame President Obama for the sluggish economy.
A new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows for the first time ever a slight majority, 53% of those surveyed, blame this president for the nation's economic problems.
Just in time for re-election.
That number is up sharply from the 32% who felt President Obama was to blame six months after he took office.
The silver lining here for Obama is that Americans blame former President George W. Bush even more than him for the nation's economic woes. But Bush won't be on the ballot next November.
The poll also shows that about six in 10 independents believe both presidents are to blame.
This is not good news for President Obama, with the economy sure to be the top issue in the 2012 race.
Another recent CNN poll shows eight in 10 people think the economy is in poor shape, and less than 40% approve of how President Obama is handing the economy and unemployment.
What's more, only 9% say the president's policies made the economy better.
Thirty-seven percent say they made the economy worse, while 39% say his policies prevented the economy from getting worse. Fifteen percent say they had no effect.
If it's the economy, stupid – and it always is – the president has a real problem.
If he has any hopes of a second term, something's got to be done about persistent 9% unemployment. And it's got to be done quickly.
But the Congressional Budget Office predicts unemployment will remain above 9% right through the end of next year. Which means it's very likely to become someone else's problem.
Here’s my question to you: How much do you blame President Obama for the struggling economy?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
What does it say that most of the 10 poorest states are Republican?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As the Republican race for the White House heats up, here's something the GOP can't be too comfortable with:
Most of the 10 poorest states in the country are Republican.
Mississippi is the poorest... followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and North Carolina.
And the list doesn't even include Texas, where Rick Perry is governor and one in five people lives in poverty.
In a piece on CNN.com, Roland Martin writes Republicans expect to win all 10 of these states in 2012, although President Obama won North Carolina by a slim margin in 2008 and West Virginia is usually considered a Democratic state.
Martin points out that despite the red-leanings in these states, you don't hear so much from Republicans about poverty.
In fact the word "poor" has barely come up at the GOP debates thus far. The only exceptions were:
- Rick Santorum discussing welfare reform
- Ron Paul suggesting the U.S. get rid of the minimum wage
- and Mitt Romney using the phrase "energy-poor."
Overall, Republicans believe their economic agenda is the best way to get people back to work - and many in the GOP are quick to blame President Obama for the rise in the poverty rate.
But how about addressing the root causes of poverty more directly - especially when millions of people in these so-called red states are suffering.
The Census Bureau reports a record $46.2 million Americans are living below the poverty line - which translates to about $22,000 a year for a family of four.
Minorities are especially hard hit - with 27% of blacks living in poverty and 26% of Hispanics compared to about 10% of whites.
Here’s my question to you: What does it say that most of the 10 poorest states are Republican?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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