Job Performance

Obama's Economic Approval Hits 26%

Poll shows Afghanistan, foreign-affairs handling ratings also sink.

A Gallup poll released Wednesday found that President Obama has only a 26 percent approval rating when it comes to the economy—well below his previous low of 35 percent in November 2010. He has similarly low numbers for his handling of the federal budget deficit (24 percent) and creating jobs (29 percent). There are a few bright spots for the president: A majority, 53 percent, approve his handling of terrorism. Only four in 10 said they supported his foreign policy, and his approval on Afghanistan dropped 15 points. Overall, Obama’s approval rating had dropped to around 40 percent, when only three months ago it approached or exceeded 50 percent.