Most Americans think Obama does not deserve re-election, according to new poll

By Stephen C. Webster
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 -- 12:37 pm
rawstory.com

President Barack Obama was dealt the worst poll numbers of his career Wednesday as a new survey by Quinnipac University found that most Americans think he does not deserve to be re-elected in 2012.

The numbers come amid several other findings, by Quinnipiac and others, that seem to indicate the president had hit the skids with Americans.

Also revealed in the Quinnipiac poll: Obama's approval rating is also at its lowest point ever, at 42 percent, while his disapproval rating rose from earlier in the month to a new high of 48 percent.

A similar Quinnipiac poll published March 3 found President Obama with 46 percent approval and 46 percent disapproval.

In that earlier poll, voters also split on whether Obama deserves reelection, with 47 percent saying yes and 45 percent saying no.

The latest poll reflects the president's sliding fortunes in other studies, with a full 50 percent now saying that he does not deserve to stay in office beyond 2012.

Researchers also found that only 13 percent of Democrats disapprove of the president's actions.

They're joined by 81 percent of Republicans, Quinnipiac noted, who fiercely oppose Obama -- even in spite of the fact that much of his policies, both foreign and domestic, are the same as or similar to his Republican predecessor's.

That may have more to do with the president's demeanor and how he is depicted by the media, than any actual policy decisions.

The Gallup polling firm also said Wednesday that a key metric, whether President Obama is perceived as a "strong leader," was also slumping, even in the face of fresh military action against Libya.

At 52 percent, Gallup noted, Obama was facing the smallest number of Americans yet who said that title was an appropriate description of the president. That number has fallen 21 percent since Obama took office.