The Numbers Tell the Story

The Tarrance Group usually gets it right, and for Republican, they're delivering good news this time.

Here's their latest:

The latest bi-partisan George Washington University national Battleground Poll, conducted by The Tarrance Group in conjunction with Lake Research (a Democratic polling firm) is released today. Highlights:

*) President Obama's Job Approval is down to just 53%, while 42% disapprove. The intensity on each side is nearly even, with 40% strongly approving, and 37% strongly disapproving. He is upside down among Independent voters, 42% approve to 50% disapprove. That said, his personal image remains higher, with 61% favorable and 36% unfavorable.

*) For the first time in several cycles, Republican voters are more energized about voting than Democratic voters. Fully 75% of Republicans say they are extremely likely to vote in the 2010 elections, compared to just 66% of Democrats.

*) The generic Congressional ballot is back to a 3-point Democratic advantage. By comparison, the generic showed an 8-point DEM lead in the last Battleground of the 2006 cycle.

*) Just 34% approve of the job Congress is doing, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a 32% favorable image, with fully 51% unfavorable. However, while the numbers for the Democrats in Congress are down (just 45% approve), Republicans in Congress remain down at only a 37% approval.

*) Republicans have regained their advantage on the issues of holding down taxes and controlling wasteful spending. However, on the issue who would better handle turning the economy around, Democrats in Congress still lead by 14-points.

*) Only 33% say that the economic stimulus passed by Congress is working, while 61% disagree. But 58% say they agree that it should be given a year to really make a difference. However, the change in intensity, narrowing of the generic ballot, Congressional approval, and the re-establishment of the Republican advantage on the key issues of taxes and spending indicate that while voters say Democrats should be given a chance, the voters are beginning to turn.

Republicans will continue to position themselves for gains in 2010 by holding fast to our fiscal conservative principles, not getting personal but sticking to battling on issues, and continuing to make the argument that lower taxes and less government are what creates jobs and makes the American economy work.