The Polarization Excuse

Politico.com reports today in an article "Poll: No Love for Obama on Deficit" that the President's numbers are moderating but still generally bad. In an attempt to find some encouraging interpretation (not news), author Jennifer Epstein starts to slice the salami:

But on other issues related to the economy, the numbers aren’t quite as grim for Obama. There, 37 percent of Americans say they back his economic policies, while 60 percent said they disapprove. But substantial partisan polarization exists over the issue, with 9 percent of Republicans, 32 percent of independents and 68 percent of Democrats saying they support his handling of the economy.

I can't really tell her intent here, is this a suggestion the "numbers aren't quite as grim" because of polarization? Is it not "quite as grim" that only 32 percent of independents (that might otherwise be counted on for blowing with the winds) approve? Does polarization somehow imply that people's opinions are somehow fixed by their own personal polarization, whatever that might mean, and thus of not as much concern to the White House (or the media)?

I find this paragraph to be quite confusing and generally troubling.