BIG POLL DROP FOR OBAMA – AT 8:12 P.M. ET:  A new CNN poll, just released, shows more problems for the embattled president:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- President Obama's approval rating dropped 8 points in three weeks to the lowest level since he was elected U.S. president, a poll released Friday reported.

Only 42 percent of those surveyed for the CNN/Opinion Research Council poll said they approve of the president's handling of his job, while 54 percent said they disapprove. Even more, 56 percent, said Obama had failed to meet their expectations and they are disappointed in him.

His approval rating was 50 percent in a poll at the end of August, CNN reported.

The numbers are bad news for Democrats in the midterm elections with only 37 percent of likely voters saying an Obama endorsement would make them more likely to vote for a candidate. Almost half of likely voters said support from the Tea Party would push them toward a candidate.

Well, that's refreshing.  The poll was taken this week, which means it may reflect voter response to the revelations in the Woodward book.

Ironically, Obama has been gaining in the Rasmussen poll.  We look at polls over a period of time, and RealClearPolitics does a good job of averaging them.  The current RCP average is 45.1% approval for the president, and 50.1% disapproval.

September 24, 2010