2010 Election Poll Roundup: Obama Approval Rating Hits a New Low

Today's 2010 election polls show President Obama's approval ratings at an all-time low and some Democratic House seats in danger. Nine-term Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, first-term Reps. Frank Kratovil of Maryland and Kurt Schrader of Oregon are at least 10 points behind their Republican challengers. Kratovil and Schrader's districts backed Obama in 2008 but supported Bush in 2004. Meanwhile, the Senate race in Alaska is tied between GOP-ers Lisa Murkowski and Joe Miller, but Murkowski is pulling more Independents and Democrats, while Miller is taking more of the Republicans. The Senate race in Pennsylvania between Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak and Republican Pat Toomey is also tied up. Republican Rep. John Boozman opened up a 14 point lead over Democratic incumbent Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas Senate race.

[Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the 2010 campaigns.]

National:

A Gallup Poll report released today shows President Obama's approval rating at a new low, 44.7 percent for the most recent quarter of his presidency--July 20 through October 19--compared to 47.3 percent during the three months before that quarter. The poll also found that 50 percent of Americans view Obama unfavorably, his lowest favorability rating since he took office, according to the poll.

A separate Gallup Poll survey found that more Republican voters are likely to vote for a candidate Sarah Palin campaigns for (40 percent) than not (9 percent). The study shows 35 percent of Independents say they probably won't vote for a Palin supported candidate and 45 percent say her impact makes no difference.

[See an Opinion slide show of 5 ways a GOP majority should govern in 2011.]

Alaska Senate

Republican write-in candidate Murkowski and GOP nominee Miller are tied, according to a CNN/Time poll, Among likely voters, Murkowski and Miller each take 37 percent while Democrat Scott McAdams is pulling 23 percent with a 3.5 percent margin of error. Among Republicans, 58 percent say they would vote for Miller while 37 percent support Murkowski. However, among independents, 40 percent support Murkowski and 32 percent support Miller. Murkowski leads Miller among Democrats, 31 percent to 2 percent.

[See a slide show of 14 establishment candidates who lost to insurgents.]

Arkansas Senate

Two-term Senate Democrat Lincoln is trailing four-term lawmaker Boozman by 14 points, according to a CNN/Time poll. Boozman leads Lincoln 55 percent to 41 percent among likely voters. The survey also found 63 percent disapprove of the job Obama is doing as president, while 33 percent approve. John McCain won the state in 2008 with 59 percent of the vote. 

Florida's 22nd House District

Two-term Democratic Rep. Ron Klein and Republican Allen West are in a statistical dead heat, according to a Sunshine State News poll released today. West leads Klein 47 percent to 44 percent among likely voters, with a 3.46 percent margin of error. The survey found 9 percent of likely voters remain undecided. The poll also gives the candidates a relatively even favorability ranking of 39 percent for Klein and 40 percent for West. The president's approval rating is 52 percent in this district, which he carried in 2008 with 52 percent of the vote. John Kerry won it in 2004 with 53 percent.

[See who is giving to Klein.]

Kentucky Senate

Republican Rand Paul is leading Democrat Jack Conway 48 percent to 43 percent among likely voters, with a 4 percent margin of error, according to a Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey. Nine percent of likely voters remain undecided.

[Check out our editorial cartoons on President Obama.]

Maryland's 1st House District

First-term Democrat Kratovil is trailing Republican state Sen. Andy Harris by 11 points, according to a Monmouth University poll released today. Harris leads Kratovil 53 percent to 42 percent among likely voters. The pair competed for this seat in 2008, when Kratovil beat Harris by 1 percentage point. The same poll also found that 62 percent view the Democratic Party unfavorably, and 76 percent think the country is on the wrong track. The district, which includes Maryland's Eastern Shore, voted for McCain in 2008, and was represented by a Republican in Congress for 18 years until Kratovil was elected.

Reader Comments Read all comments (27)

Add Your Thoughts

Comment Name State Select One AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY International Email

Please enter the two words below into the text field underneath the image.

Incorrect please try again

Enter the words above: Enter the numbers you hear:

Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.