The latest CBS News Poll, conducted between March 29 and April 1, found Americans unhappier than ever with Mr. Obama's handling of health care - and still worried about the state of the economy.
President Obama's overall job approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 44 percent, down five points from late March, just before the health bill's passage in the House of Representatives. It's down 24 points since his all-time high last April. Forty-one percent of those polled said they disapproved of the president's performance.
When it comes to health care, the President's approval rating is even lower -- and is also a new all-time low. Only 34 percent approved, while 55 percent said they disapproved.
In related news, Wapo has Obama at 53 percent approval and reports that vulnerable Democrats running for reelection in the House and Senate are not sure if he would help their chances or hurt.
Obama made a campaign-style swing to Maine on Thursday to talk about health care and raised money for the Democratic National Committee in Boston on his way home. But he did not use the trip to campaign for any of the dozens of Democrats nationwide who are in trouble because of their health-care votes. White House officials scoffed at the notion that the president should actively campaign with midterms seven months away, saying that they are mapping out his campaign schedule over the next few weeks.
In the anti-establishment climate, some Democrats are saying that it's smart for Obama to keep his distance from candidates in difficult races, allowing them to run against Washington and avoid the downward pull of his approval ratings. Others say he should heed the lessons of last year's Democratic losses and begin campaigning early enough to make a difference with the Democratic base.
Rasmussen finds that the majority, 56 percent, believe Obama is governing like a partisan Democrat, that number is up from 39 percent right after he was elected.
More from the daily presidential tracking poll shows "31% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove."
"Overall 46% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty-three percent (53%) disapprove."
Last but not least "Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 46%, Democrats 39%"
Obama's political capital and the goodwill he enjoyed to win the presidential election is gone, Democrats in Washington have spent it faster than expected as has Obama himself.
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