Ouch.

We’re not going to be posting every single presidential poll for the next 15 months. But, when Obama is practically tied in Pennsylvania with Rick Santorum, yes, Santorum, well, something is seriously wrong. Pennsylvania is a must-win state for Democrats. From Quinnipiac:

Pennsylvania voters say 52 – 42 percent that Obama does not deserve to be reelected. Matching the president against possible Republican challengers shows: * Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 44 percent to Obama’s 42 percent;

* Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 43 percent to Obama’s 45 percent;

* Obama leads Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann 47 – 39 percent;

* Obama tops Texas Gov. Rick Perry 45 – 39 percent. “Any good poll is a snapshot of public opinion and this survey shows President Barack Obama at a low point just before a major announcement on the national debt limit, after a long and bitter debate,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Let’s see how the public reacts to the news and whether today’s results are a baseline for measuring future results, or whether they show the president is in big trouble in Pennsylvania, a key swing state.”

Yes, I know Santorum is from Pennsylvania. That makes this worse. They know he’s a right-wing has-been with no record of achievement.

The Obama political team figured this debt dealing and grand bargain talk was going to help the President with independents. Not so much, right now anyway. And, it sure didn’t inspire his base (not that they ever worry about the base at the White House. They just call in the leaders of the DC-based advocacy groups and tell them what to think. That scene is repeated every Tuesday night at the Common Purpose meeting.

Maybe some of the group leaders should start actually start advocating and explain to Team Obama that there are serious problems. Sure, they might lose their coveted access or not get invited to a party. But, if something doesn’t change soon, we might lose the White House.