Reuters Poll: Obama Approval Slumps Among Independents

Wednesday, 09 Mar 2011 04:40 PM
By Dan Weil

Independent voters, who will be crucial to President Barack Obama's re-election effort, are abandoning him now, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The president’s approval rating among independents dropped to 37 percent in March from 47 percent in February, the survey shows.

Independents provided an important source of support for Republicans in their election victories last year. And Obama has moved his policies toward the center this year in an effort to gain the support of this key constituency.

The president’s overall approval rating dipped to 49 percent in March from 51 percent last month, a move within the margin of error, according to Reuters/Ipsos.

Ipsos pollster Cliff Young says that, although Obama’s popularity is stable for now, he “could go through a rough patchâ€