OBAMA STILL POLL-CHALLENGED - AT 10:53 A.M. ET:  President Obama retains his personal popularity, but, after a week of gain, he's slipped back again in the respected Rasmussen report.   Ras has him up at 54% approval versus 46% disapproval.  The gap between those who strongly approve and those who strongly disapprove is only three points, 35-32.

The key, though, is other polling that shows the president's issues aren't too popular with the public.  And Congress certainly isn't popular.  How these polling results will translate at the polls a year from November will profoundly impact how much running room this administration has.  So far they've been all over the field, with the most sweeping expansion of powers that we've seen since the great Depression. 

June 13, 2009