While Gov. Rick Perry’s entrance into the Presidential race has been the focus of most of the media attention, President Obama’s poll numbers continue to be at all time lows for his presidency. According to the latest Gallup Daily Tracking only 38% of adults approve of the job Obama is doing while 55% disapprove.
To a large extent, the President’s poor approval numbers are being driven by the wide spread belief that his stewardship of the economy has been a failure. More than 7 in 10 adults disapprove of his handling of the economy, while a mere 26% approve.
And if American’s confidence in the economy is any indication, Obama shouldn’t hold out hope that a economic turnaround will boost his numbers. According to the latest numbers from Gallup, U.S. economic confidence continues to deteriorate.
Obama’s less than stellar numbers aren’t just confined to the usual subgroups. His approval now stands under 50% among groups that were key to his victory in 2008, including”
- Independents: 35% approve
- Hispanics: 44% approve
- Women: 41% approve
- 18-29 year olds: 46% approve
- Middle income voters: 38% approve
The bottom line is that while the focus for the moment is on the GOP race, with numbers like these the race will necessarily be about Barack Obama’s performance as President. And with Obama’s continued downward trend, whoever the Republicans nominate will be in good shape to make Obama a one term President. Obama has already done most of the work for them.
