Grade: C
“It is very difficult to talk about politics after the tragedy in Aurora, Colo. I join everyone in mourning the loss of lives, futures, families and hope. We are a great people, and somehow we will survive, but this is so senseless.
“The presidential race is frozen at the moment as President Obama is underperforming his 2008 numbers. He won 53 percent of the vote then and is polling an average of about 46 percent now. He is an incumbent in difficult times. But no reason for Republican Mitt Romney to cheer. His average is about where Sen. John McCain was on Election Day 2008 — about 44 percent — and not budging.
“The president can take some solace in the fact that the former Massachusetts governor is refusing calls by some leaders in his own party to release his taxes. Everyone knows he is rich. There has not been even a hint of scandal, so why the ’principled’ stance that only makes voters who do not know him wonder what he is hiding? This could be when he picks up polling points, and he is not.
“But warning to President Obama: August has been a cruel month for Democrats (Carter, Dukakis, Clinton and Kerry) and yourself. You may want to rethink your vacation plans.”
Last week’s grade: C
• Follow pollster John Zogby on Twitter (@thejohnzogby)
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