Authors: Carmen Cox

Comstock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- President Obama isn’t watching the Republican frenzy in Iowa, but his key strategist David Plouffe is and he has some colorful observations.
“There were a lot of attacks and barbs, there were very few ideas about how to fix the economy. That was an uninspiring group of candidates  on the stage in Iowa last night,”   Plouffe told ABC News in an interview in his West Wing office, just 20 paces down the hall from the Oval Office.
Plouffe also poked at the Republican performance in Congress, where he claims some public opinion polls show the GOP approval rating sinking as low as 10 percent in some surveys.
“So you’ve hit rock bottom here. People have lost confidence in Congress.  And remember the Republicans had this transcendent victory about 10 months ago. So in 10 months, they’ve lost the country,” he said with a slight smile.
Of course, President Obama’s poll numbers have gone negative, too, but  the senior advisor brushes off that suggestion that President Obama cancel next week’s seaside vacation to remain in Washington and work on the economy.
“You work around the clock no matter where you are,” Plouffe insisted. “He’s got young kids. He’s going to spend some time with them. He’ll be workin’ on the economy and getting’ foreign policy briefings so I think this is a complete manufactured story. “
The Obamas plan to vacation on Martha’s Vineyard for the third year in a row, from Aug. 18 through Saturday, Aug. 27.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

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