Over the course of just one month, President Obama’s approval rating in the CNN/ORC poll has dropped a full eight points to 45%-his lowest rating in eighteen months. His disapproval rating climbed to 54%. On the all-important issue of trust, the president took a nine point hit. Only 49% of those surveyed believe Obama is honest. This is the first time he has been rated under 50% on this question and the lowest level of his presidency.
In worse news, back in 2006, only 52% of Americans disapproved of how President George W. Bush handled government surveillance of Americans. Today, a full 60% disapprove of Obama on the same issue.
This is likely due to the fact that Bush always made clear that the War on Terror was his foremost concern and that he was doing everything possible to make us safe. On the other hand, Obama ran against Bush’s surveillance state and now tells us that the War on Terror is pretty much over. But then we learn that, rather than wind down the surveillance along with the war, he has put it on steroids.
It is apparent that all the scandals have finally taken a toll, especially among those under thirty, where the president saw a 17% decline in approval. Approval among Independent voters collapsed ten percent, to a measly 37%. Disapproval rocketed 12 points to 61%.
CNN’s polling director Keating Holland says, “It is clear that revelations about NSA surveillance programs have damaged Obama’s standing with the public, although older controversies like the IRS matter may have begun to take their toll as well[.]”
Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC
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