POLITICAL DANGER FOR OBAMA – AT 8:44 A.M. ET:  It gives us no pleasure to report ethnic political divides among Americans, but they must be reported because they exist, and they affect elections.

Scott Rasmussen has a startling report on ethnic and ideological division, even within the Democratic Party.  These are danger signs for Mr. Obama:

While President Obama continues to earn sky-high job approval ratings among Democrats, there are significant enthusiasm gaps among various segments of the president's party.

Overall, data from the Rasmussen Reports Presidential Tracking Poll during the final week of 2010 showed that 51% of all Democrats Strongly Approve of the president’s performance. When you include those who Somewhat Approve, the president received positive reviews from 82% of those in his party.

Yet while 75% of Black Democrats Strongly Approve of the job he's doing as president, only 40% of White Democrats share that level of enthusiasm. That gap is much bigger than it was when Obama first took office in January 2009. During his first week as president, he earned Strong Approval from 88% of Black Democrats and 72% of White Democrats.

Among White Democratic men, the president now earns Strong Approval from just 33%. That figure is down from 70% during the president’s first week in office.

From an ideological perspective, 60% of Liberal Democrats Strongly Approve of Obama’s performance. Only 14% of Conservative Democrats agree (down from 49% during Obama’s first week as president).

Overall, including those who Somewhat Approve, the president’s job approval rating is now at 87% among Liberal Democrats and 42% among Conservative Democrats.

Among all White voters, including those who are not Democrats, the president’s overall approval rating is at 38%. Among all Black voters, 94% offer their approval.

COMMENT:  I hate to see a racial divide.  The fact that Mr. Obama had the strong approval of 72% of white Democrats during his first week in office would seem to demonstrate that his drop among whites isn't do to racial prejudice, but the disappointment independents and Republicans feel.

The 94% of approval for Mr. Obama among black voters reflects racial pride and solidarity.  While we can criticize it, at least it's understandable.

The president's popularity, right now, is being propped up by strong minority support.  Far from being a unifying president, he's been divisive.  I'm sorry to say it, but the ethnic divide can provide some ugliness during the 2012 campaign, something we didn't see in 2008.

January 3, 2011