Obama’s Erosion Among White Voters Continues

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Just 40 percent of whites in the Post/ABC survey approve of the job Obama is doing, his lowest rating among this key demographic since the start of his presidency and well below the 50 percent approval number that he carries nationwide. Forty-three percent of white voters strongly disapprove of the job Obama is doing, while just 19 percent strongly approve.

Among the other lowlights with whites in this poll for Obama: 54 percent of college-educated whites now disapprove of the job he is doing, and, among white college-educated women, Obama’s approval numbers has dipped below 50 percent for the first time in his presidency in Post/ABC polling.

Much of Obama’s struggles with white voters seems directly attributable to the public’s deep pessimism about the economy. {snip}

It’s interesting that Obama’s flagging numbers on the economy have been driven not by white Republicans or white Independents but rather by white Democrats.

Since April, white Democratic approval of Obama’s handling of the economy is down 20 points, from 80 percent to 60 percent. And, nearly as many white Democrats now strongly disapprove of how he’s dealing with the issue as those who strongly approve (25 strongly disapprove; 28 strongly approve).

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What these numbers mean is that congressional Democrats need one of two things to happen to avoid major losses this fall: 1) Obama’s numbers must rebound among white voters in some significant way or 2) The Democratic National Committee’s plan to re-create elements of the 2008 electoral coalition must work, changing the face of the traditional midterm electoral in a meaningful manner.

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