Gallup 2/9
Obama's Economic Approval Rating Improves
By 59% to 38%, more Americans continue to disapprove than approve of President Barack Obama's handling of the economy. However, his approval rating on the economy is up from 30% in November after descending to a term-low 26% in August. ...

Pew 2/9
Young, Underemployed and Optimistic
... A plurality of the public (41%) believes young adults, rather than middle-aged or older adults, are having the toughest time in today's economy. An analysis of government economic data suggests that this perception is correct. ...

Gallup 2/7
Congress' Job Approval at New Low of 10%
A record-low 10% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, down from 13% in January and the previous low of 11%, recorded in December 2011. ...

Public Religion Research Institute 2/7
Employer Health Care Plans and Contraception Coverage
A majority (55%) of Americans agree that "employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception and birth control at no cost." ... Roughly 6-in-10 Catholics (58%) believe that employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception. ...

Charlie Cook 2/7
Up in the Air
Last Friday's drop in the unemployment rate from 8.5 to 8.3 percent marked the fifth consecutive month of declines in the jobless rate. This decline adds to a growing body of evidence that there are some subtle but important shifting sands in the 2012 election. ...

Third Way (pdf) 2/7
2012 Showdown: Battle for the Obama Independents
Many analysts lump all Independents together, when in fact there are currently two very distinct groups of Independent voters: those who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 ("Obama Independents") and those who voted for John McCain ("McCain Independents"). The Obama Independents are the real heart of the contest for 2012. ...

Gallup: Frank Newport 2/6
Where the U.S. Election Stands Now
U.S. President Barack Obama beats several of his possible Republican opponents in recent Gallup general election trial heats, but he is tied with GOP front-runner Mitt Romney, suggesting he could be facing a competitive race this fall. ...

ABC News: Gary Langer 2/6
Today's Poll: A Word on the Buzz
Our latest ABC News/Washington Post poll is getting some buzz today, including some criticisms of the questionnaire design. On one hand it’s hardly the newest game in town for aggrieved parties to try to dismiss survey results they don’t like. On the other, fair-minded discussion always is welcome. ...

Ronald Brownstein 2/6
Is Obama's Coalition Re-Emerging?
One striking aspect of the new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday is how closely the internal results of its head-to-head match-up between President Obama and Mitt Romney track Obama's performance against John McCain in 2008. ...

ABC News: Gary Langer 2/6
Economic Gains, Questions on Romney Boost Obama
Mitt Romney has solidified his position for the Republican nomination but lost ground in the main event, with improved economic indicators and questions about Romney's wealth and taxes lifting Barack Obama to a head-to-head advantage for the first time this cycle. ...

Washington Post 2/6
Obama holds edge over Romney
Boosted by improved public confidence in his economic stewardship, President Obama for the first time holds a clear edge over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a hypothetical general-election matchup, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. ...

ABC News: Gary Langer 2/5
Nevada's a Romney Romp
Mitt Romney romped in the Nevada caucuses with a leg up from his Mormon co-religionists, but also with winning margins across other faith groups -- evangelicals included -- and a knockout even among the very conservative voters with whom he's struggled elsewhere. ...

CBS News: Sarah Dutton 2/5
How Mitt Romney won the Nevada caucuses
... CBS News entrance polls show Romney won among most demographic groups. He received strong support from Mormon voters in Nevada - a group he also won overwhelmingly in the 2008 Nevada caucuses. ...

Tim Hibbitts 2/3
Vengeful Billionaire Sinks President's Re-election Bid!
... "When the facts collide with the legend, print the legend." So it is with the 1992 presidential election, as even today many reporters state as fact that independent Ross Perot cost George H. W. Bush the presidency. ...