They're Listening Now (Polls)

Voters, that is. Recent polls suggest government scandals are penetrating the minds of even low-information voters.

From Rasmussen Reports:

• 35% have a favorable impression of the federal government, while 60% hold an unfavorable view (6/18/13)
• 82% of voters nationwide are now following the IRS targeting story, including 44% who are following "very closely" (6/18/13)
• 57% believe it's likely the NSA data will be used by other government agencies to harass political opponents (6/14/13)
• 56% view the Feds as a threat to individual rights (6/5/13)

Women and young voters have consistently had the greatest faith in President Obama, but a CNN/ORC poll taken June 11-13, 2013, shows a significant erosion of that faith.

Responses of 18-34 year olds:

• job as president: 48% approve; 50% disapprove
• economy: 40% approve; 57% disapprove
• foreign affairs: 43% approve; 55% disapprove
• federal budget deficit: 30% approve; 67% disapprove
• terrorism: 55% approve; 41% disapprove
• illegal immigration: 48% approve; 48% disapprove
• government surveillance of citizens: 33% approve; 62% disapprove

Responses of women:

• job as president: 49% approve; 50% disapprove
• economy: 42% approve; 58% disapprove
• foreign affairs: 46% approve; 51% disapprove
• federal budget deficit: 38% approve; 60% disapprove
• terrorism: 52% approve; 45% disapprove
• illegal immigration: 41% approve; 54% disapprove
• government surveillance of citizens: 38% approve; 58% disapprove

President Obama's rating as "honest and trustworthy" is down in this poll as well.  He's still above water with women (53% give him thumbs up; 46% thumbs down), but he's below water with 18-34 year olds (49% trust him; 51% don't).

UPDATE—ConservativeIntel adds this:

[Obama] has dedicated much of his rhetorical firepower to debunking the message of the Reagan presidency — that government is too big, and that big government often creates bigger problems than it solves. And if he wins over young supporters to such a philosophy, he will have created a generation of believers in a more robust federal government, who, like those who came of age in the Reagan era, will age and to some degree retain those beliefs. This poll suggests he is losing that argument."

• "Fifty-seven percent of those questioned say they disagree with the president's views on the size and power of the federal government."
• 62 percent now believe that "government is so large and powerful that it threatens the rights and freedoms of ordinary Americans."