Weekly political update – Where news & perceptions meet reality
Bottom Line: This is your weekly reality check. What's really going on with public opinion of the president and our view of the direction of the country? Here it is...
- Trump's lowest rating: 37% approval (8/4/17)
- Trump highest approval rating: 47% approval (2/20/20)
- Trump's current rating: 46% approval
This was a week of Asian sized proportions and issues all around. What started out as the President’s first trip to India to work on trade – which was a success, was dominated by what started in China weeks ago. Without a doubt the COVID-19 virus has become the only topic of consequence in Washington for the week. Even topping the wild and wooly Democrat debate which was loud, unruly and ultimately indecisive in accomplishing anything other than placing the field right where they were before the debate. It’s hard to know what to make of anything that’s happened this week because it’s hard to know where the coronavirus story and potential for outbreak goes from here. Without a doubt it’s already hindered the economy to a certain extent but then again,from an economic standpoint as long as the jobs market holds up, and interest rates keep dropping, the consumer economy in the US should remain strong and housing is primed to benefit significantly.
Incidentally, last week marked the high-water mark for President Trump’s approval rating. The virus has knocked him back a point overall this week but he actually has tied his record high with likely voters this week. As usual, the more informed and engaged people are, the more likely they are to approve of President Trump.
- Adult only samples: N/A
- Registered voters: 44%
- Likely voters: 52%
What you never hear reported are the ratings of the Democratic leaders opposing him. Here’s the latest...
- Pelosi: 39%
- Schumer: 30%
Much less approved of than President Trump. Nancy is down a point this week. Looks like the effort to try to politicize the virus hasn’t worked. And it shouldn’t. It was, you might say, deplorable.
Looking at the direction of the country this week...
Where we stood on Inauguration Day:
- Right Direction: 30%
Today:
- Right Direction: 41%
Overall, we’re 11% more optimistic than in the aggregate of the Obama years.The virus has taken two points of starch out of our optimism this week.