MORE POLL WOES FOR THE WHITE HOUSE - AT 6:20 P.M. ET:  Again, more confirmation of the president's decline in the polls.  Fox Dynamics issued its report today:

President Obama's approval rating has hit a new low of 46 percent, according to a FOX News poll released Thursday. An equal number -- 46 percent -- disapprove of the job he's doing.

Breaking down the numbers by political party shows how sharply split American voters are over the president's job performance. While 85 percent of Democrats approve of their party leader, 80 percent of Republicans and 51 percent of independents disapprove.

And...

Despite the drop in Obama's approval rating, the president continues to outperform the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. More than twice as many Americans disapprove (63 percent) as approve (26 percent) of the job Congress is doing.

COMMENT:  Approval of the president in the Fox poll exactly matches the finding in the Rasmussen poll, posted just below.  Disapproval in the Rasmussen poll was higher.

We always stress that polls are snapshots in time, and can change abruptly.  Ronald Reagan had some bad poll numbers in his first term, then went on to win a landslide victory against Walter Mondale in 1984.  However, Reagan had the press against him.  Obama has it in the palm of his hand.  Still, his numbers keep dropping, and Congress's are an embarrassment.

If these numbers hold, Republicans will have a superb opportunity a year from now in the most crucial midterm elections of our era.  Whether they seize that opportunity is another matter altogether.

November 19, 2009