DEM NUMBERS SLIP, BUT DON'T CELEBRATE YET - AT 5:45 P.M. ET:  The latest Pew survey has bad news for the Democratic Party, but there's a big asterisk:

...the new poll finds favorable ratings of the Democratic Party have declined sharply since spring. Just 49% now say they have a favorable view of the Democratic Party. This compares with a 59% favorable rating for the party as recently as April and 62% shortly before Obama took office in January.

And the asterisk...

Opinion of the Republican Party, which stands at 40%, has not changed all year.

And that, not only the Dem decline, is the real story.  Democratic problems do not automatically translate into Republican gains.  The GOP has an opportunity, a golden one, but isn't taking much advantage of it.  As we've said here before, it has no real program, no exciting ideas, nothing affirmative to bring to the American people.  So far its stance can be summed up as "just say no."  It needs to do far better.

And Pew's report on Obama's approval:

...51% now approve of Obama’s job performance while 37% disapprove. While that is largely unchanged from July (54%), it is down 10 points from June (61%).

Independents, who approved of Obama’s job performance by nearly two-to-one in June (56% to 29%) are now about evenly divided: 45% approve while 43% disapprove.

Again, opportunity presents itself.  But you can't beat somebody with nobody.  The GOP must build presidential candidates, and give them public platforms. Next year's midterms will be a test run for 2012.

August 19, 2009