Obama Continues Outreach to Hill As Poll Numbers Dip
Much has been made about President Barack Obama's stepped up outreach to lawmakers on Capitol Hill aimed at boosting support for his fiscal policies. But there are fresh signs that the president should also keep an eye on his standing with the American people when it comes to his handling of the economy.
A new Washington Post/ABC News survey found that the president currently holds a 44 percent to 40 percent advantage over congressional Republicans on the question of whom the public trusts more to deal with economic concerns. In December, the poll showed an 18-point split in favor of the president.
The Washington Post's Jon Cohen and Karen Tumulty also explain the dip in the president's overall approval rating:
Obama's overall job-approval rating stands at 50 percent, down five points from before he took the oath of office in January. Looking along partisan lines, the slippage since then has been particularly pronounced among political independents. Two months ago, independents tilted clearly in his direction, with 54 percent approving and 41 percent disapproving. Now, half of independents express a negative opinion of the president's performance; just 44 percent approve.
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http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/03/obama-continues-outreach-to-hill-as-poll-numbers-dip.html
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