Most Presidents lose a lot of support between inauguration day and their first year in office. The reason is simple: on inauguration day the new guy has not actually done anything. All the people who voted for him still like him, and the other party is usually willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Now Obama’s been heavily involved in a health care debate, passed a stimulus that moderates hate, etc.

BTW, his cote total last November was 53%. So ifb he’s alienated some moderates he’s apparently brought enough others on-side to make up the difference.

I think Obama has to and will substantially stay his course. Why? Well, the alternative hypothesis seems to be that he could somehow protect his remaining support or supplement it by backing down and . let’s face it, thereby accomplish nothing of real note. It seems extraordinarily unlikely to me that backing down or substantially changing course will pad his positives.

I read his remaining 53% as saying “keep going.” Of the other 47%, how many of these folks are at all likely to change their minds and approve of his admin if he backs off or changes course? Not that many at all, IMO.

I don’t think it’s as bad as you think considering the drop the President Bill Clinton had in at the end of 1993.