New Poll Shows Obama Falling, But Not Below GOP Contenders - Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Economic anxiety is driving President Obama’s approval rating to nearly its lowest level yet, a new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows, but he still edges out any possible GOP opponent for 2012.

The president’s 47 percent approval rating is down seven points from January, but he would get a majority of the vote against every potential Republican White House candidate except former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whom he leads by a 49 to 45 percent margin.

Results prove a direct correlation between the faltering economy and Obama’s grade: “Despite signs of economic growth, 44 percent of Americans see the economy as getting worse,” the Post reported, and Americans demonstrate particular concern for rising gas prices; meanwhile, 57 percent disapprove of Obama’s handling of the issue.

Still, another factor at work could eclipse the economic punch, in Obama’s favor: a general dissatisfaction with the GOP field.

Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee each trail Obama by only four and six points, respectively (all other contenders slack by double digits), but when Republicans and right-leaning independents were asked which candidate they would vote for in a primary or caucus, the only names volunteered were Romney, Huckabee, real estate mogul Donald Trump, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin—the latter three of whom have not shown significant motion toward entering the race.

But it’s not all good news for the president. Among the independent base that largely carried him to his victory in 2008, poll numbers show that both Romney and Huckabee run “a touch higher” than Obama.

via nationaljournal.com