All Time Low...Or So It Feels

Obama Needs to Dramatically Change Course If He Wants Fix His Slipping Poll Numbers

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/03/18/obama-needs-dramatically-change-course-wants-fix-slipping-poll-numbers/#ixzz1HTkqkTT3

O'Reilly and Dick Morris weigh in:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4589743/obamas-approval-rating-drop-due-to-japan

National Journal (Perhaps the coolest in terms of breakdown + Charts and Graphs): http://nationaljournal.com/magazine/some-encouraging-signs-for-the-president-20110318

These reports came in days before Obama announced to the nation that he would be committing troops to the efforts in Libya. In them, Obama faces a 49% approval rating, and the admission by Rassmussen poll respondents that only 22% of them think the country is headed in the right direction.

What makes these articles interesting to me is that each source has framed and presented the approval ratings results differently. While the Fox News opinion piece and the O'Reilly video lay out the numbers with a little bit of commentary, the National Journal rolls out fancy graphs and a breakdown by race, education, education, gender and party.

While its very easy to accept the assessment that Obama is losing approval and needs to make some changes, the Fox News sources don't analyze the composition or trends in approval like the National Journal. The National Journal seems to indicate that Obama's overall approval rating hasn't really changed over the course of his Presidency. Fox News only seemed to emphasize the fact that his Job Approval Rating has slipped five percentage points in the past week.

The way the media reports numbers like approval ratings is important. While numbers are always subject to manipulation, as analysis is to bias, the background information provided by the National Journal really puts the news into perspective. Anyone who relied solely on the Fox News assessment missed the trending that occurred, though its important to note that both sources were quoting different polls that were taken, both asking about the President and Job Approval.

Either way, it's obvious that different assessments have an important impact as the President seeks reelection in 2012, and the field of potential challengers begins to emerge. They base their strategies in terms of things like this. Bad or out of context information compromises their legitimacy as a candidate.

Word of advice: Never let the numbers, or the pundits, speak for themselves.