Polls show distrust over Benghazi, personal blame for President for VA mess as independents desert Obama

Two recent polls, although not remarkable in the most common approve/disapprove index contain some data that should give Democratic candidates pause. As John King points out in the video below, the president's approval rating is the North Star of off year elections. The CNN poll King is referring to is bad enough if one reads only the top line. Obama is underwater in voter approval 43% to 55%. This has changed little since the last poll but when one drills down further Obama's approval rating among independents he is underwater 31% to 69%. No one knows what percentages of independents will show up for the fall elections. Conventional wisdom dictates Democratic turnout will be low and Republican turnout higher if not high. Democrats must be hoping the independents stay home as they are apt to vote against their party by a margin of better than 2 to 1.



Turning to the ABC/ Washington Post poll, 79% of respondent think Obama bears some personal blame for the trouble at VA hospitals. A full 97% view the VA's problem as serious! Answering the question, "Do you think the Obama administration has honestly disclosed what it knows about what occurred in Benghazi or has it tried to cover up facts" 58% think the administration has covered up facts. Furthermore 51% favor additional congressional investigation while only 42% think it has been investigated enough.

This speaks both to Obama's competence and integrity. God knows what the public will think of his integrity when the next poll focus on the Gitmo terrorist swap and his "mission accomplished" Rose Garden love in with the parents of a deserter.