(Image Source: The White House/TechNewsDaily)

BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE
 

ANCHOR LOGAN TITTLE

Slow job growth, sluggish economy and the Solyndra investigation. A president’s approval rating can only take so much abuse, and Obama’s has reached an all time low.

Fox News was quick to note that – the President’s new rating is worse than some of his predecessors.

“Clayton: 43 percent approval rating right now, that is one of the biggest whole of the presidency right now. And it's interesting, looking at politicians and presidents at the same point in their presidency, remember George H W Bush, same point in his presidency, 70 percent approval rating, coming off the first Gulf War. George W Bush with approval ratings below 50 percent, Bill Clinton at 48 percent, president Obama's approval rating the lowest of any of those presidents.”

And CBS News says it might actually be the independents driving the rating down.

“…the vast majority of Democrats approve (78 percent), while even more Republicans disapprove (89 percent) of how he's handling his job. But only 37 percent of independents approve...”

Despite the weak numbers the president said he has a “much better” chance of getting re-elected than back in 2008.  ABC reminds us, last year, Obama said polls don't tell the whole story.

“When your poll numbers drop you're an idiot.  When your poll numbers are high you're a genius.  If my poll numbers are low, then I’m cool, and cerebral, and cold, and detached. If my poll numbers are high, boy he’s calm and reasoned.  So that’s the filter through which a lot of this stuff is interpreted.”’ (ABC)

Analysts on MSNBC are much more optimistic. They say it’s quite an achievement given everything he took on – that his ratings aren’t any lower.

“I think there's a case to be made that given the objective conditions of the country, the fact the president is only at 43% is absolutely a remarkable stunning feat of political, you know, talent. Americans like the president. His likability factor is very high even if his job approval rating has sunk pretty low."

And on CNN – Roland Martin says Obama’s gotta start fighting, or he’ll lose his base.

 “…[N]o one fears the president. It is a point about conviction as well. The base wants to know that you're going to fight as hard as you can, and you cannot give the impression that, 'hey, I'm Mr. Bipartisan and let's work this thing out.' Folks want to see you go to battle, even if it means losing a good fight.”

Obama's not alone in struggling public opinion.  A CBS/New York Times poll shows just 12 percent of Americans approve of how Congress is doing its job.