Obama Support Slipping; GOP in Discord

(Newser) – President Obama is in hot political water but Republican contenders aren't faring much better, a new poll says. Obama's disapproval rating hit 50% for the first time in the New York Times/CBS poll, and reached 59% among the all-important independent voters. His overall approval rating, 43%, isn't great but beats Jimmy Carter and roughly ties Ronald Reagan at the same time in their presidencies, the New York Times notes. On the economy, a majority supports Obama's new jobs program, but nearly half predict a double-dip recession, and most say the US is off-track.

The poll also shows discord between Republican voters and candidates. While 8 in 10 GOP voters agree that Obamacare should be axed, at least partly, and that illegals immigrants should be deported, most say some form of global warming exists and that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry or have civil unions. Also, most Republican voters harbor reservations about their preferred candidate, and few independents like the GOP candidates at all.