President Donald Trump's approval rating on a key issue is "flat-out awful," according to CNN's Harry Enten.
A Republican proposal to set up health savings accounts to purchase insurance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace failed Thursday on a largely part-line vote, and Enten told "CNN News Central" that polling shows Americans do not approve of the president's approach to health care at all.
"Just flat out awful – in fact,it's the worst of his majorissues," Enten said. "I mean, just take a lookhere. This is according to thenew AP-NORC poll, 29 percent – hedoesn't even reach 30 percent on it, approve of the job. I waslooking back at all the opinionpolls, this ties for his lowestrating ever in either term oneor term two, disapprove, more thandouble, 69 percent runs 40 pointshigher than the approval. Thatis gosh-darn awful, it'shorrendous, and when you look at Republicans, even 39 percent of Republicans saythey disapprove."
After the GOP proposal fell short in the Senate, the president attempted a conciliatory at this year’s Congressional Ball by welcoming Republicans and Democrats alike and calling to "set aside all political differences," at least for the evening.
"When we'retalking about two-fifths of theRepublicanepublican base saying theydisapprove of Donald Trump in aparticular issue, you know, thatthe American people are againsthim, and I should point out this29 percent is no outlier," Enten said. "I was lookingat the Fox News poll, that was up35 percent as well. The bottom line is Americans very much dislike Donald Trump and health care. Itis no wonder he's taking a moreconciliatory tone."
Polling shows a clear preference to extend subsidies for Obamacare that are set to expire at the end of the year without congressional action, Enten said.
"A clear majority of the Americanpublic say they want thoseexpiring ACA subsidies extended,compared to just 30 percent who say letthem expire," Enten said. "Again, we'retalking double, more than double,on the extend side versus thelet expire, and even 45 percent of Republicans on my little notethere say that they should beextended. Again, we're talkingabout an issue that unites Democrats and cracks the Republican base right down themiddle. This is just awfulpolitics for Republicans."
"This is really simple, blame ifACA subsidies aren't extended, this is among those who areenrolled in the ACA – look atthis, 63 percent, the vast majority say Trump or congressional Republicans will get the blame,compared to just 19 percent ofcongressional Democrats," Enten added."Again, the point ofthis segment is we are seeingmassive, massive majoritiesblaming Trump, saying they wantthe ACA subsidies to beextended, and if they're not,they are blaming the Republican Party and Donald Trump. Thepolling is rarely ever thisclear, but on this issue, it isvery much clear. This is anissue that hurts Republicans andvery much helps Democrats."