Obama Tries to Keep Key Supporters Happy

Pollster John Zogby regularly updates our Obamameter. Each week, Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis, and interaction with major players to come up with a rating of between 1 and 100. The Obamameter, however, is not a poll-based job approval number. Instead, the Washington Whispers Obamameter is Zogby's judgment on the performance of the president once multiple factors are considered. In this week's Obamameter, Zogby looks at the hurdles to major legislation and ties in the election of Sen. Al Franken and Obama's outreach to gays.

"After a tough six months of big problems to wrestle, Obama hasn't mastered them, but he is holding his own. The economy continues to sputter, and violence escalates in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and now Iraq. Obama did have two congressional victories this week, but neither may be as important as they seem now. The House passed a climate change bill, but its chances of getting through the Senate are poor. Al Franken has finally secured the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat, giving Democrats the supposedly filibuster-proof 60 votes. However, Obama will have a very hard time keeping those 60 in line on the major bills ahead, such as healthcare, labor reform, and climate change. With gays and lesbians unhappy with his policies, Obama tried to buy time with words at a White House reception marking the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion."

This week: Down to 75.

Last week's rating: 77

John Zogby is president and CEO of Zogby International, a public opinion, research, and business solutions firm with experience working in more than 70 countries around the globe. Founded and led by Zogby since 1984, Zogby International specializes in telephone, Internet, and face-to-face survey research and analysis for corporate, political, nonprofit, and governmental clients. The firm is headquartered in Utica, N.Y. John Zogby is also the author of The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream (Random House).

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