Poll: Obama Seen as Greater Failure than Bush

Friday, August 7, 2009 2:57 PM

By: Rick Pedraza

A new CNN poll released Friday shows more Americans consider the first six months of President Barack Obama’s administration worse than that of his predecessor, former President George Bush.

When asked whether they thought the first six months of Obama’s tenure in office has been a success or a failure, 37 percent said they believe it was a failure. During Bush’s first six months in office, a similar CNN poll from August of 2001 showed only 32 percent considered it to be a failure.

Those who said the first half year of the Bush administration was a success polled at 57 percent in 2001, while Obama polled at 51 percent.

Other findings from the CNN poll show 65 percent of Americans believe Obama has tried to handle more issues than he should have. Nearly 30 percent believe he has not handled enough of the issues, including the economy and healthcare.

More than 51 percent think Obama’s policies have made the economy worse, while 44 percent say he made the economy better.

Five national polls conducted in July indicate that President Barack Obama's approval rating has slipped under 60 percent. In early June, Obama's average approval rating was 62 percent. It dropped a point to 61 percent by mid-June and stayed at that level through the rest of the month.

However, a Quinnipiac poll released Thursday shows Obama's approval rating now has slumped to 50 percent, the lowest since his inauguration.

"Recent polls indicate that Obama's lowest ratings — and biggest losses — come on the public's perception of how he is handling the economy," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said.

"And the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows a double-digit drop in the number of Americans who think that the President has a clear plan for solving the country's problems. The public may not be as willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt after six months on the job as they did when he first took office."

http://www.newsmax.com//insidecover/oba ... 45354.html