Republicans Should Maybe Not Order That Case Of Party Favors Yet

A new WaPo poll shows that while a majority of voters have little or no confidence in President Obama to make the right decisions and two-thirds feel the same way about Dems in Congress, almost 3 in 4 have little or no confidence in Republicans in Congress.

Public confidence in President Obama has hit a new low, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll. Four months before midterm elections that will define the second half of his term, nearly six in 10 voters say they lack faith in the president to make the right decisions for the country, and a clear majority once again disapproves of how he is dealing with the economy.

Regard for Obama is still higher than it is for members of Congress, but the gap has narrowed. About seven in 10 registered voters say they lack confidence in Democratic lawmakers and a similar proportion say so of Republican lawmakers.

Overall, more than a third of voters polled -- 36 percent -- say they have no confidence or only some confidence in the president, congressional Democrats and congressional Republicans. Among independents, this disillusionment is higher still. About two-thirds of all voters say they are dissatisfied with or angry about the way the federal government is working.

Such broad negative sentiments have spurred a potent anti-incumbent mood. Just 26 percent of registered voters say they are inclined to support their representative in the House this fall; 62 percent are inclined to look for someone new.

That's bad news for both sides.  People still hate the Republican Party and trust them even less than Obama.  The problem for Democrats is despite their accomplishments, the economy and unemployment is all that matters to voters right now.

Democrats nationally remain on the defensive as they seek to retain both houses of Congress this fall. Registered voters are closely divided on the question of whether they will back Republicans or Democrats in House races. Among those who say they are sure to cast ballots in November, 49 percent side with the GOP and 45 percent with Democrats.

Overall, a slim majority of all voters say they would prefer Republican control of Congress so that the legislative branch would act as a check on the president's policies. Those most likely to vote in the midterms prefer the GOP over continued Democratic rule by a sizable margin of 56 percent to 41 percent. 

And that right there is going to drive a stake through the Obama presidency unless the Dems get to work here in the next six weeks. If financial reform and jobs legislation doesn't pass and soon, the GOP has an excellent chance of getting the House back...and that means endless gridlock.