THAT SINKING FEELING - AT 10:20 A.M. ET:  There's a good reason why no one at the White House refers to Scott Rasmussen as "Santa Claus."  They'd like to send back every gift he brings.

This morning's Rasmussen report has still more bad news for the president, and his party:

Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. The President’s overall approval has stayed between 44% and 46% every day for twelve days. Prior to that, it had stayed between 46% and 50% every day for more than two months.

Fifty-five percent (55%) now disapprove of the President’s performance.

It is the trend that should worry the White House.  There was stability for a time, but the last 12 days (of Christmas?) have shown another downturn.

And there's this:

Republicans have opened their largest advantage yet on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

Rasmussen has the details:

Republican candidates now have an eight-point lead over Democrats, their biggest lead of the year, in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.

The new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 36% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.

Support for GOP candidates held steady over the past week, but support for Democrats slipped by a point.

COMMENT:  The Dems are reportedly hoping that the president's signing of the anticipated health "reform" bill will turn things around.  Well, that's possible.  Moments of triumph, well orchestrated, can have a bandwagon effect.  But I really wonder whether that will happen this time, with so much public opposition to the bill being signed.

Other than that, there isn't much coming down the road that looks good for the Dems...unless of course the Republicans really mess up their 2010 campaign.  Can't judge that just yet.

December 23, 2009