Washington, January 16: Lonnie Garbiso, a stylist at the Euphoria beauty shop in Henderson, Nevada, nods towards his boss at the reception counter and admits that at times recently she has had to scold him for talking politics with his customers. But the things they have been saying about President Barack Obama lately, he just can’t help it.
“I’m 50 years old and I’m entitled,” Garbiso says, taking a break from dyeing, teasing and snipping the locks of the local ladies. “I am standing up for the man. I think it’s time to leave him alone. What’s it been, a year? Give the man a chance. If people could stand by him a bit more, it would really help.”
The pony-tailed Garbiso, who is half American-Indian, half Hispanic, is seeing the same shift that other Democrats here in Nevada and across the country are. As Mr Obama approaches the first anniversary next Wednesday of his inauguration, he is no longer walking on electoral water. From a high shortly after the inauguration of almost 70 per cent, his approval ratings are now at 50 per cent or even less.
–Agencies