WHERE OBAMA STANDS WITH VOTERS – AT 9:35 A.M. ET:  A new poll shows a fascinating divide by age in public perception of the president.  From The Politico: 

While a new poll shows Americans are sharply divided over whether President Barack Obama’s first two years in office have been a success or failure, a substantially larger percentage of voters over 50 see him as a failure compared with those under that age.

In a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Thursday to mark the second anniversary of Obama’s inauguration, 45 percent of voters under 50 say he’s been a failure and 47 percent believe he’s succeeded, compared with a majority - 51 percent - of adults over 50 who think he’s failed and 45 percent saying he’s done well...

...Overall, Americans are closely split on their view of Obama’s first two years, with 45 percent saying they consider his presidency a success, while 48 percent said it’s been a failure.

Americans aged 50 to 64 are the most negative on Obama, with 56 percent saying they consider his presidency a failure, while 41 percent consider it a success, CNN found. However, people over 65 see the first two years in a more positive light, with 46 percent of those over 65 saying they see the first two years as a success, while 44 percent say they’ve been a failure.

Americans ages 35 to 49 also aren’t happy with Obama’s first term. Only 38 percent of them say Obama’s been a success, while 51 percent said he’s been a failure.

COMMENT:  That is not exactly a ringing endorsement, but neither should it mean that Republicans can be complacent.  You can't beat somebody with nobody, and right now the GOP has nobody in the presidential sweepstakes who is a favorite to beat Obama in 2012.  The party has historically been rigid about presidential nominees, tending to choose "the next in line," rather than trying for something daring.

Daring may do it.  Next in line will not.

January 20, 2011