The Gallup Poll reports that a majority of Democrats, 53%, have a “positive” image of socialism, which includes independents who lean toward the blue party.

Only 17 percent of Republican and GOP-leaners hold socialism in a positive light. In total, more than one-third of Americans, 36%, have a positive image of socialism.

Also viewing socialism positively: 61% of liberals, 39% of moderates and 20% of conservatives.

The poll comes at a precarious time for the political left. The headline of my column Thursday: "Dems Haunted by Revived Stereotypes." As I wrote, we have seen "the return of 'socialist' as a rhetorical dodge ball, evoking mid-twentieth century framing wars." Senator Joe McCarthy must be rolling over in his grave (or maybe it's Henry Wallace). This poll won't help Obama's effort to refute the resurgent stereotypes, whether its socialism or "tax and spend liberal."

More of the poll, including views on the federal government and big business, can be read here.

A University of New Hampshire Granite State poll shows President Obama's support in the key primary state has slipped considerably since the fall. Overall, the president's job approval rating is now 48 percent in New Hampshire, with 47 percent disapproving. That's down from 55 percent approval in October, when only 40 percent disapproved.

The trend is most troubling among independents: 65 percent approved in the last survey, but now just 39 percent do.

On health care, 64 percent of independents disapprove of how the president has handled the issue; even one-in-four Democrats disapproves. Only 41 percent think the country is on the right track, down from 46 percent in October.

The survey of 500 New Hampshire adults was conducted January 27 through February 4, a period which includes Obama's February 2 visit to Nashua.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) continues to hold big leads over his two potential Republican opponents in the open Senate race this year. According to a new Rasmussen poll (Feb. 1, 500 LV, MoE +/- 4.5%), Blumenthal leads former Rep. Rob Simmons and former WWE executive Linda McMahon by some 20 points each.

Blumenthal 54 (-2 vs. last poll, Jan. 7)
Simmons 35 (+2)
Und 7

Blumenthal 56 (-2 vs. last poll, Jan. 7)
McMahon 36 (+2)
Und 4

Blumenthal has only been in the race for a month, after jumping in following Sen. Chris Dodd's (D) retirement announcement in January.

He instantly gave Democrats their best chance at the seat, as Dodd had been trailing both Republicans in earlier polls. In this poll, 70% said they have a favorable view of the attorney general, with just 3% not sure how they feel about him -- indicating a high name ID.

In an interview with RealClearPolitics last month, however, Blumenthal said he knows his lead will invariably shrink.

"I very much expect a hard-fought and competitive race, and I fully anticipate that the polls will tighten," said Blumenthal, refusing to comment on either opponent.

A new Rasmussen poll (500 LVs, 2/2, MoE +/- 4.5%) shows both Republican candidates -- physician Rand Paul and Secretary of State Trey Grayson -- have the advantage in general election matchups over the Democratic candidates -- Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo and Attorney General Jack Conway.

General Election Matchups
Grayson 49 (+5 vs last poll, 1/6)
Mongiardo 35 (-2)
Und 11 (unch)

Paul 48 (-1)
Mongiardo 37 (+2)
Und 12 (-1)

Grayson 44 (-1)
Conway 40 (+5)
Und 12 (unch)

Paul 47 (+1)
Conway 39 (+1)
Und 11 (-1)

Interestingly, while Grayson has a higher net favorable rating overall, Paul performs best as the Republican nominee. You can find more Kentucky Senate matchups here.

Favorable Ratings
Grayson 61 /18
Paul 54 / 26
Mongiardo 44 / 43
Conway 47 / 32

President Obama has a 42 percent approval rating, while 57 percent disapprove. Opinion of Gov. Steve Beshear (D) is roughly split, 49 percent approving and 48 percent disapproving.

A new FOX News/Opinion Dynamics poll finds President Obama for the first time ever with an upside down job approval rating -- 46% approve, 47% disapprove.

Obama now has a 49.0% RCP Average Job Approval rating.

Less than a month ago, the FOX poll had Obama at 50%/42% approval, an improvement from mid-November when Obama was at 46%/46%. Obama's favorable rating remains in positive territory (51% favorable/43% unfavorable), though this is his lowest rating since taking office.

As for Congress, the news is even worse -- just 22% approve of the job it is doing, including 39% of Democrats, 11% of Republicans and only 16% of independents. That's the lowest mark Congress has received in this poll in more than a year. Plus, Speaker Pelosi's favorable rating is down to 24% -- the lowest it's been in more than three years.

On "Don't Ask/Don't Tell," which Obama has vowed to repeal, 61% favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Republicans appear split on the issue, with 44% in favor and 46% opposed. The House Republican Conference has said it opposes the repeal.

The survey was conducted Feb. 2-3 of 900 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3%.

Clever title, eh? I did not come up with it myself. Rather, I stole it from this scathing press release sent out by the Club for Growth attacking Newt Gingrich:

Fresh Off NY-23 Humiliation, Gingrich Gives Bennett “Kiss of Dede”

In Utah, Former Speaker Endorses Another Big-Government Republican

WASHINGTON – The Club for Growth PAC today responded to comments by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who yesterday attacked the non-partisan Club for not blindly supporting all Washington Republican incumbents.  At an event in Utah yesterday, Gingrich endorsed Senator Bob Bennett and criticized the Club PAC for opposing the three-term incumbent, sponsor of the Wyden-Bennett government health care takeover bill, and advocate of the Bridge to Nowhere and the Wall Street bailout.

“Last fall, as conservatives around the country rallied to help Doug Hoffman in New York's 23^rd district special election, Newt Gingrich supported the ultra-liberal Dede Scozzafava, right up to the day she dropped out of the race and endorsed the liberal Democrat,” said Club President Chris Chocola.  “Newt has proven time and again that he will support any Republican, regardless of policies and principles.  That's his right, but the Club for Growth PAC puts principles over party.”

“Newt was wrong about New York-23, and he's wrong about Utah,” Chocola said.  “And pretty soon, Bennett will wish Newt never gave him the kiss of Dede.”

For the record, Gingrich campaigned for Bennett yesterday in Utah and said the following:

In a news conference, Gingrich took a shot at the Club for Growth, a national conservative group that has targeted Bennett. "I wish the Club for Growth would spend as much time and energy to defeat liberal Democrats as they do dividing Republicans. … I try to defeat liberal Democrats. I don't spend much time trying to defeat Republicans."

You've no doubt seen by now the Web video from Carly Fiorina's Senate campaign, which attempts to portray Tom Campbell as a "FCINO" -- fiscal conservative in name only. Or, more to the ads visuals, a wolf in sheep's clothing. The spot is being universally panned online, even generating the monicker "Demon Sheep" on Twitter.

Well in honor of the ad, RCP presents some of the more on-target campaign ads built around animal imagery. Check them out after the jump.

(more...)

The new debt limit of the government of the United States.

Jon Ralston laid the wood to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman yesterday:

Goodman summoned reporters and then, powered no doubt by Bombay Sapphire, said Obama is a “slow learner." [snip]

Ah, our mayor. The answer to the question: Who makes Joe Wilson look like the epitome of civility?

And then he took a swing at Obama as well:

I have to believe that even Republicans must feel some sympathy in this latest drama for poor Reid (or something slightly kinder than schadenfreude). Here's a guy whose numbers have plummeted partly thanks to his carrying of the president's water for a year — and it has been a heavy lift that has left him with the political equivalent of the stooped shoulders and halting gait of a man on his way to the gallows.

And this is the thanks Reid gets?

You think I'm joking, but not really:

Scott Lee Cohen -- a pawnbroker who shocked state Democratic leaders Tuesday night by winning the party's nomination for lieutenant governor -- was arrested about four-and-a-half years ago and accused of holding a knife to a former live-in girlfriend's neck, newly obtained court records show.

The misdemeanor charge against Cohen was dropped weeks later when the woman -- who had just been found guilty of prostitution -- failed to show up to testify, according to those records.

UPDATE: The Sun-Times has the latest:

Gov. Quinn said today that if his running-mate, Scott Lee Cohen, can't adequately explain the charges against him — that he held a knife to the throat of a prostitute ex-girlfriend — then "he should step aside" as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.

Cohen responded that he has “no intention of stepping down or stepping aside.”