As reported previously, Democratic partisans James Carville and Paul Begala launched an attempt to anoint Rush Limbaugh the head of the GOP in the mind of the American public. This was possible because no one really knows who speaks for the GOP these days, as a poll, from Pew, (here) shows. The top contender is John McCain, at a measly 11%. Second is Limbaugh, at 5%.
It's clear the White House approved. On Monday, President Obama's press spokesperson said (here), reacting to the charge from Darth Vader (er. Dick Cheney) that Obama is weakening the nation:
most popular member of the Republican cabal," Gibbs said.
Limbaugh took the bait and appointed himself chief spokesperson for the GOP. And it's helped him in his ratings (here). But though this may be good news for Limbaugh the broadcaster, it's terrible news for the GOP with the broader electorate, according to a new CBS News Poll:
Over the past few weeks, the White House has been casting right-wing
talk show host Rush Limbaugh as the head of the Republican Party, and
based on a new CBS News poll, it appears they may be onto something:
According to the poll, Limbaugh’s favorable rating stands at just 19
percent, a full 43 points lower than President Obama’s.
Limbaugh’s unfavorable rating, meanwhile, stands at 40 percent,
while 41 percent say they don’t know or don’t have an opinion. Not
surprisingly, the conservative commentator, who has said he hopes that
the president’s economic policies fail, is far more popular with
Republicans – 47 percent view him favorably – than with Democrats, just
seven percent of whom view him favorably, and Independents, just 14% of whom approve of Limbaugh.
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Kit Stolz 