NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE... – AT 8:08 A.M. ET:  It's little more than a month after the Republicans scored one of the most smashing electoral victories of our era...and Barack Obama is rising dramatically in the polls.  His successes, one after the other, in the lame-duck session of Congress, has given him an enormous boost.

Scott Rasmussen reports:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11.

While still in negative territory, the president was polling about -16 or -17 in the days right after the election.

Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.

In the days after the election, the split was more in the area of 45-54.

This should serve as a warning to the Republican Party, which historically has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.  The Republicans had little control over the lame-duck session as it was the "old" Congress in session, run by liberal Democrats and entirely indifferent to the will of the people, as expressed in the election.

The Republicans' turn comes within days, when they will control the House, increase their numbers almost to parity in the Senate, control an increasing number of state legislatures and increase their number of governors.  The party must understand that it can't only win yesterday, it must win today, and tomorrow, and all the tomorrows after that. 

We've been reading about plans the GOP has in the House.  They look good.  The leadership is smart.  Lets start the show.

But remember, Obama is president.  The presidency carries with it enormous political clout.  We've just seen that.  We have an enormous fight ahead. 

December 29, 2010