THIS IS REMARKABLE – AT 10:21 A.M. ET:  It's understandable that Republicans and many independents would be falling away from Obama.  But Democrats?  From the Washington Post:

Democratic voters are closely divided over whether President Obama should be challenged within the party for a second term in 2012, an Associated Press-Knowledge Networks Poll finds.

A real Democratic challenge to Obama seems unlikely at this stage, and his reelection bid is a long way off. But the findings underscore how disenchanted his party has grown heading into the congressional elections Tuesday.

The AP-KN poll has tracked a group of people and their views since the beginning of the 2008 presidential campaign. Among Democrats, 47 percent say Obama should be challenged for the 2012 nomination and 51 percent say he should not be opposed. Those favoring a contest include most who backed Hillary Rodham Clinton's unsuccessful faceoff against Obama for the 2008 nomination.

I hate to bring up an awkward subject, but I wonder how the poll breaks down racially.  It was recently noted that 91 percent of African Americans support Obama, contrasted with 37 percent of whites.  I wonder if a poll taken only of Democrats would reflect this division.  In other words, it's possible that a majority of white Democrats would favor a challenge to Obama, suggesting a potentially tense racial climate. 

Among all 2008 voters, 51 percent say he deserves to be defeated in November 2012 while 47 percent support his reelection - essentially a tie.

COMMENT:  Obviously, these figures can change dramatically by 2012, and may well change in the president's favor if the economy turns around.  But for president to suffer such disillusionment within his own party this soon into his presidency is something I haven't seen before.  Mr. Obama is in trouble.  He can't blame the public, although he will.  He needs help.

October 31, 2010