The bully pulpit has long been considered one of the great political assets of the presidency. But it doesn’t seem to be working out so well for Barack Obama, at least on health care. Pollster.com has a nice graphic showing the trend in poll results in Obama’s job approval on health care. Note when net approval turns to disapproval—where the two lines on the graph cross. It’s right about on July 22, the date of his prime time evening press conference on health care (and the stupidity of the Cambridge police). And this reaclearpolitics.com chart of presidential approval ratings generally from realclearpolitics.com shows a similar trend. On July 22, reflecting poll results when no respondents had seen or been exposed to the evening press conference, the RCP average on approval and disapproval was 56%-39%. Now it’s 54%-41%, not a big change, but a clear trend. Obama’s power of persuasion is working, but not in the direction he wants.
