PPP, a democrat-leaning polling firm, is out today with a new poll of Ohio, a critical battleground this Fall. The top-line number getting the most attention is Obama’s erosion of support over the past month. A month ago, Obama led Romney by 7. Today’s poll shows the lead has fallen to just 3 and Obama remains below the important 50% threshold. Perhaps more interesting in today’s poll, though, is the sharp drop-off in Obama’s support among white Democrats.
Last month, Obama led among white Democrats 89-6. Today, his lead is down to 78-16. A twenty-point swing in one month is a big shift. The corrupt media will no doubt suggest this has something to do with race. But, remember, they were giving Obama around 90% of their support a month ago. A huge swath of white Democrats didn’t suddenly become racists this month. Whether its the continued sluggishness in the economy, the renewed focus on ObamaCare or the Fast & Furious scandal, something is definitely eroding Obama’s support with a significant portion of his base.
It could, though be related to the announcement almost two weeks ago that Obama was green-lighting a million or so illegals into the job market. As I wrote at the time:
Obama’s policy change sends a clear message to Hispanic voters. It also sends a clear message to non-hispanic voters. Namely, Obama has just added millions of workers to the legal labor force. Millions of illegal immigrants will now be able to legally compete with Americans for the very few jobs available. This message will not be lost on working-class voters.
The media loves to obsess over GOP divisions on the immigration issue. What they fail to note, however, is the Democrats are equally divided. (A Breitbart award to the first reporter who goes to a union hall to get reaction to today’s policy change.)
This is unsurprising because Americans are divided on the issue. We’re a nation of immigrants and pride ourselves in being a land of opportunity for those eager to seek the American Dream. We are also, though, a nation of laws and many Americans of all political leanings are uncomfortable with the idea that someone can be “rewarded” by breaking the law. Especially at a time that Americans across the economic spectrum feel acute economic anxiety.
Earlier this month, it was just conjecture that Obama’s immigration pander might cost him support among working class voters. Today provided the first evidence that his policy reversal is having an impact. Just not the one he anticipated.