Despite Losing Favor, Obama Still Trusted Over GOP

The bad news for the White House: the latest ABC/WaPo opinion poll shows President Obama with the lowest approval rating of his term. It's net positive -- 50/46, or +4 -- but on domestic issues like unemployment (-1), the economy (-6), health care (-9), and the deficit (-19), it's net negative.

The bad news for the GOP: Voters still trust President Obama more than Republicans, even on health care. The numbers: Economy, Obama +12; Health care, Obama +7; Afghanistan, Obama +12; Energy, Obama +10.

What's the lesson? Even though Americans disapprove of President Obama's record on many domestic policy issues, they do not see the Republican Party as a viable alternative. At some point, that may change, because the GOP is also the only alternative, but for now, the country is not looking for President Obama to be more like Republicans -- they are looking for him (and the Democratic Congress) to deliver on the change they voted for in 2008. If the White House can deliver, the GOP will be left out in the cold, partying with the teabaggers.