OH DEAR, OH DEAR, WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE? - AT 5:54 P.M. ET:  A new Quinnipiac poll out today provides no relief for the politically oppressed White House.  The president is hurting in the polls, and the trend, in the last month or two, has been relentless:

American voters give President Barack Obama a split 46 - 44 percent job approval, his lowest ever, and both the health care reform package that he wants Congress to pass and his personal rating on handling health care now win support from less than four in 10 Americans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Voters disapprove 52 - 38 percent of the health care reform proposal under consideration in Congress, and they disapprove 56 - 38 percent of President Obama's handling of health care, down from 53 - 41 percent in a November 19 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh- pe-ack) University.

But Republicans must beware.  The news isn't all good:

American voters trust Obama more than Republicans in Congress to handle health care 44 - 37 percent, down from 45 - 36 percent three weeks ago. Voters disapprove 58 - 30 percent of the way Republicans in Congress are doing their job, and disapprove 56 - 33 percent of Democrats in Congress.

So Obama's poor numbers appear to reflect Obama.  They do not appear to reflect any sudden great love for Republicans.

More on the president's decline:

American voters disapprove 54 - 41 percent of Obama's handling of the economy, down from a 52 - 43 percent disapproval November 18 and his worst score ever on this issue. The biggest shift is among Democrats who approve 71 - 24 percent, down from 77 - 18 percent three weeks ago.

The biggest drop in Obama's overall approval is among independent voters, who disapprove 51 - 37 percent, down from 46 - 43 percent disapproval.

The President's support declines as one goes up the age and income scale. Analyzed by religion, Obama gets a thumbs up from 32 percent of white Protestants, 42 percent of white Roman Catholics and 52 percent of Jews.

These are the people who turn out on election day in greater proportions than, say, young voters.

It will still be a fight for Republicans, with nothing certain.  Americans are catching on to Barack Obama, but it doesn't mean they'll automatically latch on to the GOP.

December 9, 2009