MINNESOTA TURNING AGAINST OBAMA - AT 7:23 P.M. ET:  Minnesota went for Obama last year, and also elected, by a whisker, comedian Al Franken to the equally comedic United States Senate.  That was then, this is now.

New polling shows Obama's standing in Minnesota has dropped considerably, possibly an indicator of national trends in Democratic-leaning states:

President Obama's once-robust support in Minnesota has dwindled sharply as he confronts a sluggish economy and significant unease about a health care overhaul that has split Democrats and Republicans in Congress, according to the latest Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

At 51 percent, Obama's overall approval rating in Minnesota has shrunk 11 points since April, with close to half -- 45 percent -- expressing disapproval of his handling of health care policy, his signature domestic priority.

Just 39 percent said they approve of the president's handling of health care, while 16 percent were undecided.

COMMENT:  The Obama mystique is clearly gone.  Americans are looking at the president's governing ability now, and the verdict is, at best, mixed.  He seems, at times, to be running a perpetual campaign.  As one commentator noted, he has spent more time on David Letterman than with our commander in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal.

Republicans have a magnificent political opportunity, one that will likely grow as Obama's foreign policy shows little or no result.  But the Republican Party remains unpopular, and must come up with clearly defined alternatives to make the most of its current chances.

September 28, 2009