The honeymoon is over, according to a national poll out today as President Obama’s job approval stumbles to about 50 percent over the lack of improvement with the crippled economy.
The sobering numbers come as the president backpedals from two prime-time gaffes - one comparing his bowling score to a Special Olympian and another awkwardly laughing about the economy, which prompted Steve Kroft of “60 Minutes” to ask “are you punch-drunk?”
Pollster John Zogby said his poll will show Americans split on the president’s performance. He said the score factors out to “about 50-50.”
The poll, released this afternoon, shows the president’s “excellent or good” job performance rating hitting 49 percent, down 3 points from a March 5 Zogby poll. Other poll highlights include:
• 50 percent rate Obama’s performance as “fair or good.”
• 1 percent are not sure about the president’s performance.
• 45 percent believe the nation is heading in the right direction, an upward trend.
• 91 percent of Democrats rate the president favorably.
• 14 percent of Republicans support his performance in office.
Some polls show Obama coasting with a 65 percent job approval, but not in Zogby’s tally.
“The numbers are going down,” Zogby told the Herald. “It’s not because of the gaffes, but a combination of high expectations and that things aren’t moving fast enough with the economy.”
Zogby said any stumbling does serve as “red-meat fodder” for administration antagonists.
As for the president’s love of the limelight, it could backfire, according to a media watcher.
“I thought he overexposed himself weeks ago,” said Tobe Berkovitz, associate dean of Boston University’s College of Communication.
“I wonder when the public will say ‘Instead of being in front of the camera, be in front of a spreadsheet.’ ”
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