That rise coincides with the presidents monthlong nationwide campaign pressing Congress to pass his stalled jobs bill. His latest stop in that effort was in Washington on Wednesday, and it came on the eve of a vote in which Senate Republicans are expected to block a key part of his jobs bill.
As he spoke to supporters along the Potomac River near Key Bridge, Obama did something unusual — he got personal. It happened while he was venting his frustration with congressional Republicans for blocking the bill that aims, among other things, to rebuild crumbling bridges.
“I cant imagine that Speaker [John] Boehner wants to represent a state where nearly 1 in 4 bridges is classified as substandard,” he said. “Im sure that the speaker of the House would want to have bridges and roads in his state that are up to par.”
The president also called out by name Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and vowed that his administration will act on its own to speed up the approval and financing of public works projects.
“Ive said that Ill do everything in my power to act on behalf of the American people, with or without Congress,” he said. “We cant wait for Congress to do its job; if they wont act, I will.”
Brown University congressional expert Wendy Schiller says the president is taking a page out of former President Clintons playbook. After being attacked personally for years by opponents, she says, Obama is turning the tables, much as Clinton did in the run-up to his re-election.
via As Obama Vents, His Poll Numbers Get A Bump : NPR.