After many months in a popularity trough, President
Obama appears to be getting a little bump in the polls as a result of Americans
strong support for U.S. airstrikes against ISIS jihadist forces in Iraq and
Syria.
Some
political analysts predicted that Obama would see his numbers rise a little
after he announced Sept. 10 that the United States would step up its military
air war against Islamic State fighters “wherever they exist.” While many have
reservations or questions about the details of Obama’s joint operations with
European and Middle Eastern allies, the American air campaign is highly popular
with many Americans and lawmakers.
Seven in
10 Americans say they support the action, according to the new poll, which is
up from 65 percent in early September. However, Obama’s decision to send in
nearly 2,000 U.S. forces to train Iraqi government troops and coordinate
airstrikes against Islamic State fighters is less popular. Still, 53 percent of
Americans say they support that decision.
Overall
public support for going after ISIS is up from the 60 percent level registered
in a Gallup survey last month, a fairly solid majority although still slightly
below their average of 68 percent for 10 other Obama military actions that
Gallup has asked about in the past.
More importantly for Obama and the Democrats,
however, the president’s approval rating is beginning to pick up after spending
months in the 40-percent range. According to Gallup’s most recent three-day
average, Sept. 28 to 30, the president’s approval rating stands at 44 percent,
up a percentage point from the previous soundings.
Whether
there will be enough improvement in Obama’s standing to make a difference in
the Nov. 4 mid-term election is highly questionable. Political analysts say
Republicans stand a good chance of picking up at least the six net seats they
will need to regain control of the Senate. Moreover, many Democratic incumbents
are keeping their distance from the President in the final weeks of campaigning
–fearing that his continued unpopularity will rub off on them.
For
example, Obama will be in Chicago Thursday afternoon to deliver a major speech
on the economy. While there, he will hold a private fundraiser for embattled
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn that has been closed to the press. And there are no
plans for Obama to publicly campaign for Quinn.
Post a Comment