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George's ReadsPresident Donald Trump continues to chase after the elusive 50 percent or higher approval rating. Thus far he has only hit that mark on the conservative Rasmussen poll a handful of times during his presidency .
This has not stopped Trump from claiming a higher approval rating however. In the past he has misread or misunderstood poll results and cited them as proof of a high approval rating when it was his disapproval rating that charted well over 50 percent.
And he did it again with the help of Lou Dobbs and Fox News.
On Thursday morning, President Trump tweeted a graphic from Dobbs' program. He captioned the image:
"Great news! #MAGA"
Great news! #MAGA https://t.co/haZ1HbVpNu— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1554981618.0
But there were some problems with the graphic on Fox News. And the person who would know best what the actual poll results were quickly pointed them out.
Mo Elleithee, Executive director of Georgetown Politics, posted on Twitter:
"I'm the director of @GUPolitics (Georgetown Politics Twitter account) & this graphic is incorrect."
"The Battleground Poll shows 58% approval on [just] the economy."
"But it shows only 43% overall approval [of the current state of the USA] & 52% disapproval."
"The 55% number is the President's unfavorable rating. (Only 40% favorable. )"
I’m the Director of @GUPolitics & this graphic is incorrect. The Battleground Poll shows 58% approval on the econo… https://t.co/kJNhYOnXLh— Mo Elleithee (@Mo Elleithee) 1554984002.0
Back at the beginning of April, they shared the announcement:
"Georgetown’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, The Tarrance Group, and Lake Research Partners Relaunch the 'Battleground Poll'—National Survey Will Measure Political Opinion and Civility"
"Initiated in June 1991, the [bipartisan] Battleground Polls have gained widespread media recognition as reliable bellwethers of national opinion and voters’ intentions."
Elleithee was not alone in correcting the President and Fox News.
@realDonaldTrump This graphic is totally wrong. The poll referenced gives you a 43% approval rating. The same poll… https://t.co/MCayQikZ2B— Brian Klaas (@Brian Klaas) 1554983627.0
@realDonaldTrump Um, that poll has your DISAPPROVAL at 55%. https://t.co/M89zBwNuwO— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1554989176.0
Some were less kind in their responses.
Some again raised the issue of President Trump's reliance on Fox News as his primary source of information.
@realDonaldTrump oh yay, the laziest president in the history of the universe is watching himself on Racist Romper… https://t.co/LtLuxzYxJ5— Jeff Tiedrich (@Jeff Tiedrich) 1554981761.0
However not every response was negative. One of two Twitter accounts that always responds favorably to every Trump tweet, "CC," offered congratulations.
@realDonaldTrump Congratulations Sir! 55% and 58% is really 75% and 78% when you add in the skewed polling and fake news!— CC (@CC) 1554983798.0
But that account was also quickly corrected.
@ChatByCC @realDonaldTrump Hey CC, you are way off. 55% is his unfavourable rating in that poll. You've been duped.… https://t.co/DLkDks9Br5— Shane Stokes (@Shane Stokes) 1554989903.0
And people again raised questions about the authenticity of "CC" on Twitter.
@SSbike @ChatByCC @realDonaldTrump Odd, no response from CC— 🍑 Aaron, just Aaron 🍑 (@🍑 Aaron, just Aaron 🍑) 1554991213.0
@AaronJMorse @SSbike @ChatByCC @realDonaldTrump Bot went on maintenance— Kamran Haider (@Kamran Haider) 1554991928.0
@HERETICKAY @AaronJMorse @SSbike @ChatByCC @realDonaldTrump Jacob Wohl has no time for this— kucci mane (@kucci mane) 1554993152.0
The Battleground Poll is activated in presidential election cycles. It specifically gauges voter sentiment and intentions.
For the first time, the Battleground Poll is also going to gauge civility.