Washington (CNN) - Only a third of all Americans approve of how President Barack Obama is handling the economy, according to a new national survey.
And with a CNN/ORC International Poll also indicating that more than three-quarters of the public say the country is in bad shape right now, there's little wonder why the president is getting such low marks.
According to the poll, released Wednesday morning, 28 percent of people questioned say things are going well in the country today.
"That may be a slight uptick from early August but it still represents a double-digit drop from earlier this year," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "And it's clear that economic jitters are a drag on President Obama's standing with the voting public."
Obama gets good marks for his handling of international issues. Six in ten approve of his handling of terrorism and roughly half like his track record on foreign affairs in general and Libya in particular.
And 53 percent say they trust Obama as the nation's commander-in-chief.
But only 34 percent approve of how the president is handling economic issues, with 65 percent saying they disapprove of how he’s handling the economy. Thirty-three percent give him a thumbs up on the budget deficit and 37 percent approving of how he's dealing with unemployment.
"Two-thirds of Democrats continue to approve of Obama's economic record, but seven out of ten independents disapprove. Not surprisingly, more than nine out of ten Republicans also disapprove of how Obama is handling the economy,” adds Holland.
According to CNN poll numbers released last week, the president's overall approval rating stands at 45 percent.
The CNN/ORC International Poll was conducted August 24-25, with 1,017 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
President Obama promised change, but cannot deliver with the House of Representatives made up of a bunch of extreme right-wing radicals that call themselves the Tea Party.
President Obama gets a thumbs up from me; Congress gets two thumbs down !!!!
Disagree number is just at 65%. Everyone needs 'action' not 'speeches'. I think the number is more like 80%
Obama fans talk just like the man himself. Blame everyone but Obama. Do 60% of democrats really believe the economy is doing well? Or do they just think it's still Bush's fault? Others say it's Congress, but he started with a democratic congress. He pushed through his big ideas. Where are the results? Or they say it's the global economy. But the U.S. led the way toward the downward spiral. We can lead the way out if we actually get some solid leadership. And that is a skill Obama seriously lacks. I would respect the man more if he stuck to his guns rather than caving at the first sign of resistance. How can you justify confidence in this man?
So that means 35% of people will follow Obama off a cliff. Good to know when they start passing out the kool-aid again.
Obama had both houses for 2 years. He instituted failed economic stimulis (which economists told him would do no good) and he rammed healthcare down our throats. He then RIGHTFULLY lost the congress. Congress is the house of THE PEOPLE. They represent US – THE PEOPLE. That is their job. He failed to recognize what THE PEOPLE want him to do and now he has a miserable approval rating. I'm not a Democrat, Republican nor a Tea Party member. I'm a well educated individual. His time is up. Let's get someone who isn't a politician and is willing to actually produce results without worrying about his polling numbers.
And after spending Billions on stimulus and Trillions on healthcare he then had the nerve to stand there with his hand out asking for more while playing politics with the Tea Party. This guy has to go. And fast.
Obama thumbs down on economy???????? You mean Obama got thumbs down on economy?????? Get lost peoples remember who put your food on the table right now I mean right now is not G.W.B is not GOPer anymore it is Obama and you going to get 4 more years not the party of big "NO" and "NO"......!!!!
Interesting how liberals who didn't hesitate to blame Bush for economic problems that occurred after Pelosi and Reed took control of Congress now give Obama a free pass and fault Congress when the tables are turned. You can't have it both ways.
Those who are saying he is the worse President ever, should think twice. You handled him over something in pieces and without shame you dare to ask him why it has taken so long to put all pieces together???? Hallo, you should not play with peoples mind. We are clever enough to know where to place the blame and not you!!
47% of American wage earners pay NO income tax ! Wanna bet who THEY vote for ??
Obama -> Works for the Rich. He is not doing for middle-class economy. The Rich and Businesses getting benefited only wants to improve earnings per share and need more profit. The American companies are not "Global Companies" and they do not care about Americans. When Obama has a meeting few months back with Country's TOP CEO's and also did a Photo Shoot, etc.. All the CEO's stood next to his downsized the head count in USA and hired more in Asia and Latin America. Also they jobs they down sized were the one they say they want to create "High Tech". The politicians are not speaking truth and America need true leaders who put America first and I could not see Obama or the congress doing it.
I'm still waiting for the next time Barry says he was wrong about something, because that will be his first time.
@John, PA:
Wherever you work with 80% disapproval, clearly is not a big enough sample size to represent the country...
Not to mention that your numbers are not correct, at all. Unemployment is NOT at 20%. The national unemployment rate for July dropped slightly, to 9.1%, according to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on August 5, 2011.
Sometimes in my nightmares I wish McCain/Palin had won the election. In retrospect would have been fun to see how far they would have dug us out of Bush's fiascos'.
I don't understand this poll unless it was taken by republicans. This president has been swimming upstream against a current of republicans bent on making his presidency fail, even at the expense of the economy and the American people.
A President with real leadership skills would know how to engage, cajole, pressure and coerce a reluctant Congress to deal with this kind of national crisis rather than blaming everyone else for the problem.
@John, PA
""In what nation did you take this poll ????
8 out of 10 or 80% where I work don't agree with this president, don’t trust this president, won’t support president Obama in 2012.""
Your "nation" must be different than the one I and most American's live in. Although the President has not beeen successful thus far in regards to the economy for a host of reasons, some of which are out of his control, he is by no means untrusted by 80%. If the GOP doesn't find someone better than the group of candidates they've put up so far for 2012, you're going to see a second Obama term, whether you and your nation like it or not.
The "NO" strategy is actually working. The GOP in the government with a symbiosis relation with Republican private sector leaders (CEO’s, HR managers, hiring supervisors etc) have been working successfully to keep un-employment high.
It is amazing how many people want to blame everything on the Republican controlled house. Did they forget that Obama had 2 years with a completely Democrat controlled congress and the only thing he accomplished was spending money.
Shades of Jimmy Carter. If this guy is reelected we will prove our collective stupidity. I expect it of liberals not not free thinking independents.
Hmm, let's see, how can I put this.....oh yeah:
Obama 2012
It is down to the party of NO for this along with global economies. Some folks may not get it but I do. We are tied heavily to other countries and we all have taken a huge hit. This will take time to recover and there is no magic wand or quick fix.
People may disapprove of his handling of the economy but they trust him as commander-in-chief. Interesting results. I think this shows they'd still rather have Obama in the White House rather than someone like Perry or Bachmann because they have seen what the tea party will do if they get more power and they don't like it.
"more than nine out of ten Republicans also disapprove of how Obama is handling the economy" – WTF? Is it 9 or 10?
Obama has shown himself as nothing but a modern day Jimmy Carter who is clueless on how to lead this nation and yet the Obama sheep will continue to follow him right off the cliff. 2012 can't get here soon enough.