OBAMA RALLIES IN RASMUSSEN POLL – AT 10:30 A.M. ET:  More evidence that Mr. Obama is getting a bump in the polls, possibly as a result of his Tucson speech and his seeming move to the center.  Rasmussen reports:

he Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-six percent (36%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8.

Still negative territory, but far less negative than it's generally been in recent months.

Overall, 50% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove. This is the first time in nearly a year that the president’s overall rating has reached 50% on back to back days. The last time it happened was February 2 and 3, 2010.

COMMENT:  This trend is pretty much in line with what we've seen elsewhere.  There's no guarantee it will continue.  There's also no guarantee that it represents anything real about the president.  Remember, he ran as a "moderate" in 2008, even though he had the most liberal record in the U.S. Senate.  He was able to project a "moderate" image becuse of the powerful collusion of the mainstream media.  Again, I stress that the power of the media could put Obama over again in 2012.

The president's tilt to the center may be illusory.  If the tilt gets him a second term, he'll be barred from running again and will be free to do what he wishes, especially through administrative regulation.  We could be in for a distinctly unpleasant surprise.

Polls are snapshots in time.  These numbers are likely to change, especially if the economy fails to take off.

January 23, 2011