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Obama approval rating sinks to 50 per cent: poll
Sydney Morning Herald

US President Barack Obama’s approval rating has slumped to 50 per cent, the lowest since his inauguration, according to a poll released on the eve of his 200th day in office.

Pollsters at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut said Obama’s job approval rating dipped to 50-42 per cent, a reflection of growing unease over his handling of the economy.

The figure, released on Thursday, is a substantial drop from the 57-33 per cent approval rating he had on July 2, and far less than the glowing numbers he enjoyed in the honeymoon first 100 days of his tenure.

The national poll of 2409 registered voters was carried out between July 27 and August 3. It found voters disapproved 49-45 per cent of the way Obama was handling the economy, and disapproved 52-39 per cent on his handling of health care, but approved 52-38 per cent on his foreign policy.

On July 21, a USA Today/Gallup poll found Obama’s approval rating was 55 per cent six months into his presidency, one point lower than that of his predecessor George Bush at the same point in his tenure.