Polls Show Effect of Passing Reform: Obama Up 5 Point, Dems Close Enthusiasm Gap with GOP

A new CNN poll finds Pres. Obama’s approval up 5 points, from 46 percent to 51 percent. The surge comes from a rise of 12 points among Democrats, to 86 percent, and six points, to 47 percent, among independents. Approval among Republicans remained unchanged at around 12 percent.

At the same time, a Washington Post/ABC News poll
shows the president with a 53-43 percent approval rating. The poll also appears to indicate that passage of the health-care reform bill has closed the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans, with 74 percent now saying their enthusiastic about voting for a Democrat in November, compared with 76 percent who are enthusiastic about voting for the GOP.