79% Support Obama Stimulus Plan, Poll Says

Numbers are lower in nearly every area since 2010

(NEWSER) - More data from the latest Gallup poll is trickling out, and—surprise, surprise!—it's not good news for President Obama. When it comes to handling the economy, his approval rating has sunk to a new low of 26%. That's down 11 percentage points since mid-May; his previous low was 35% in November 2010. A whopping 71% disapprove of his handling of the economy—a new high, ABC News notes. Not to mention, just 24% approve of his handling of the federal budget deficit, and 29% approve of his job creation tactics. More»

President let Congress write stimulus, and probably regrets it

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is working mightily to sell the stimulus bill, but looks have made one major mistake, Massimo Calabresi writes in Time: He let Congress write it. Obama aides let committee staffers draft the bill, relying on their legislative expertise. “They did a good job of really deferring to Congress,” confirms one. Many, however, aren’t sure deference was the way to go. More»

President's relationship with House speaker on the rocks over stimulus

(NEWSER) - President Obama might have criticized how House Republicans rolled over for President Bush, but likely expected something similar from Democrats. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already shown she won’t hew to Obama’s agenda, reports Time. They’re out of step on the auto bailout, tax cuts, and most prominently, the stimulus package: Obama, seeking GOP votes, wanted less spending and more tax cuts than Pelosi delivered. More»

Obama team surprised by unified Republican opposition in House

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's failure to snag a single vote from House Republicans for his economic stimulus package underlines the tough task the president faces in winning bipartisan support for his plan, notes Politico. Obama aides were surprised by the vote but expressed confidence that some Republicans will eventually come around. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus plan today, then calmly reminded them that "I won," Politico reports. The GOP is seeking more middle-class tax cuts, among other things, and says the spending package is too large. Further negotiations are planned, but Dems appear to be in control. Asked if he worried about GOP resistance to passing the bill by Feb. 14, Harry Reid replied, “No.” More»