Polling Data

I had an interesting conversation with a Republican friend today. He mentioned about how President Obama has the lowest approval rating for the first year of a presidency in American history. I thought for a moment and came to an epiphany on why this is.

It has been said that a President can only achieve his/her goals in the first 100 days. For the next 8 months, if the agenda runs over, poll numbers begin to fall. After the first year of a presidency, 435 members of congress and 33 senators are running for re-election. Voters have a short-term memory (unless there is a major scandal). If the elected official in question has gone on the record with a controversial vote, he/she may be toast. They have to appease their constituencies within those 11 months. The next two years are dicey depending on the outcome. But, whatever the case, since the President is the figurative and literal head of the party, if the party and/or the President mess something up, both take the heat.

Now, it goes without saying that the health care bill has been one of the most contentious issues in the past century. The President began to push health care reform in the late spring. It's January now. It has taken 6 months. The lack of efficiency led to less support (and its ability to, hence, fester) has caused Democratic members of Congress and the President to in polling numbers.

Though I am not an expert, it seems that since 'Rome wasn't built in a day,' the Democratic party has taken the heat in support.