Obama Coalition Shrinks to Young, Rich, and Minorities

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

On Inauguration Day just over a year ago, President Obama was buoyed by a very broad and rare coalition of hopeful Americans that included even Republican women. But in Year 2, he enters with the support of the small coalition of rich liberals, youth, and minorities that always backs center-left Democrats, according to Quinnipiac University pollster Peter Brown. Today's facts: Fifty-eight percent of younger voters approve of the president's job performance, in contrast with other age groups. Of liberals, 74 percent approve, and 49 percent of college grads do also. Men and women split their approval, 42 percent and 48 percent. And the white-black gap is up, with 36 percent of whites approving, compared with 87 percent of African-Americans.

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