FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With just about a year to ago until Election Day, the U.S. is a racially divided nation when it comes to President Barack Obama.
Consider this: A new CNN/Opinion Research Poll shows 61% of whites disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job vs. 36% who don’t – that’s almost two-to-one. For non-whites, it's almost the mirror image. Only 32% disapprove while 67% approve.
For a president who was supposed to symbolize a post-racial America, this is not good news. When Obama defeated John McCain in 2008, he did it with significant support from white Americans.
Exit polls showed Obama won 43% of white voters. That was the largest share of white support in a two-man race since 1976. Among young white voters, Obama did even better, getting 54% of their support. If Obama wants a second term, he needs to win back support from more white Americans in the coming months.
Meanwhile our new poll shows other results that could spell trouble for Obama. Overall, he gets a 46% approval rating, with 52% saying they disapprove.
When you compare that rating with recent incumbents running for re-election, the president ranks only above Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. They both lost their re-election bids. Most incumbents who win re-election had an approval rating above 50% a year before the election.
Finally, the poll shows 54% of the crucial independent voters disapprove of the job Obama is doing.
The president has got his work cut out for him.
Here’s my question to you: Can President Obama win re-election if almost two-thirds of whites are opposed to him?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Robert in Florida:
Well, Jack, it’s nice to see CNN is still a valued member of the president’s re-election campaign. Let’s just further divide an already divided country by trying to make this about race. The president is in over his head and people are beginning to realize this administration has only made a bad economy worse. His polices do more to inhibit job growth than encourage it. You can’t keep borrowing money that takes years to repay to create jobs that only last for months. The bottom line is: it’s the bottom of the seventh and we’re losing the game so it’s time to replace the pitcher.
Richard in Texas:
Of course Obama has a chance of winning. Look who his competition is: You have a Republican field which consists entirely of ignorance, arrogance, stupidity and foolishness. This is a slam dunk for Obama and he doesn't even have to get off of the bench. The Republicans will beat themselves. Just give then enough time.
Loren:
We can only hope that he doesn't. While there are some who think racism is involved with whites rejecting President Obama's presidency, I think that it is non-whites who still support the president who are racially motivated. While the president would like to tout that his policies bring hope to the poor, the reality is that those at the bottom continue to suffer and the pool of poor has just gotten larger.
Noel in New Mexico:
I think it all depends on who his opponent is… Given the fact that a proven office holder, ambassador, businessman, and foreign policy expert who looks presidential, Jon Huntsman, is dead last in the polls, I think Obama has a very good chance.
Avant:
Jack, There is a way for Obama to win with two-thirds whites opposing him. Let the Republican nominee be a Mormon.
JD in NH:
Have you looked at the GOP roster? Unless they come up with a viable candidate, Bozo the Clown could win a second term.