Friday, October 4, 2013

Throw the bums out? Budget deadlock portends 2014 backlash

While the House and Senate point fingers at each other over the budget impasse, new polling suggests the only thing they might accomplish is getting thrown out of office. 
Despite a robust campaign by Democrats to pin the blame exclusively on their GOP colleagues, the American public appears fed up with just about every elected member from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to the Capitol dome. 
The public sentiment should bring a sense of foreboding for any lawmaker seeking re-election in 2014, with evidence mounting of an anti-incumbent backlash in the making. 
Newly released Fox News polls show Congress' approval rating is 13 percent. President Obama's is better, but still not great for a recently re-elected president, at 45 percent. And more people disapprove than approve of either party, though the numbers for Republicans are worse. 
As for the budget stalemate, while lawmakers appear to be hunkering down for a long fight, voters are worried it will have a serious impact on them. Fifty-eight percent said they see the partial shutdown as "very" serious
And neither party is escaping blame. 

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