Poll: Obama Approval Sinks on Economy Fears

Most of his lead over Romney dissolves
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 13, 2012 4:47 AM CDT
Poll: Obama Approval Sinks on Economy Fears
President Obama speaks during a campaign event at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia yesterday.   (Getty Images)

Doubts about President Obama's handling of the economy have wiped out most of his lead over Mitt Romney and sent his approval ratings to their lowest since January, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. The percentage of voters who approve of Obama's job performance has dropped 3 points from a month ago to 47%, and his lead has shriveled from 7 points to 1 over the same period, the poll found.

"Independents are especially susceptible to economic pressures, which is why we see them bouncing all over the place in their approval of the president," an Ipsos pollster says. "The finding that he is not doing that well with them this month is something for Obama to worry about." The poll was taken following May's weak jobs report and Obama's ill-judged comment that the "private sector is doing fine," which fed Republican attacks. The president later said "it is absolutely clear that the economy is not doing fine." (More President Obama stories.)

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