Obama Reaches New Low on Handling Economy

Poor Performance in Poll Could Mean Democratic Candidates Won't Want President Stumping for Them

(CBS) In a new poll released Wednesday, the same day General Motors announced its intention to shed government-controlled ownership to return as a public company, President Obama received his lowest marks yet for his handling of the economy.

In a sunny backyard in Columbus, Ohio, the president insisted the economy is improving and that his policies are helping propel the recovery, CBS News Correspondent Chip Reid reports.

"We are on the right track," Mr. Obama said. 'The economy is getting stronger."

There was no argument from the friendly group, but the American people overall are not buying it.

In a new poll by the Associated Press, just 41 percent of Americans approve of the president's performance on the economy, his lowest in that poll yet. Sixty-one percent say the economy has gotten worse or stayed the same during the president's term.

At an unemployment center outside of Cleveland, Rick Sippola said he had to close down his trucking supply business because he couldn't get a loan. He blames the president.

"I think he's been too hard on the regulations on the banks," Sippola said.

In all, 130,000 jobs have been lost in Ohio since the president was sworn in, and the unemployment rate here is 10.5 percent.

All that economic pain has angry voters in Ohio looking for someone to blame, and since Democrats are in charge Election Day for them could be a disaster.

The state's top two Democrats are both behind in the polls, Gov. Ted Strickland running for re-election and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher running for the Senate.

The seats of four Democratic House members from Ohio - John Boccieri, Steve Driehaus, Mary Jo Kilroy and Betty Sutton - are also threatened.

The president raised money for Ohio Democrats Wednesday, but with his popularity here plunging, being on stage with him could hurt more than it helps.

"It could have a negative impact because he energizes Republicans probably more than he does Democrats," Joe Hallett, senior editor of The Columbus Dispatch, said.

The president Wednesday again blamed the Bush administration for the recession, but that argument doesn't seem to be hurting Rob Portman, a top official in the Bush White House who's leading in his race against Fisher for Ohio's open Senate seat.

"Elections are about the future, about 'Who's got a better plan to help me and my family,'" Portman said.

The president said Wednesday it will take a few years to dig out of such a deep recession, but with Election Day only 11 weeks away many here in Ohio are running out of patience.

by sven655 August 18, 2010 8:54 PM EDT
These idiots in congress pis_ed away nearly a trillion bucks - money we don't have - in a 'stimulus bill' made up of union kickbacks and support of state jobs, and some of the most ridiculous 'green projects' I have ever seen - such as factories to build all-electric trucks and projects to restore dead-bug-collections at UCLA. Create jobs? Hardly. All they did was preserve union jobs at the expense of people that work for a living. And how about the $40 million geothermal energy plant for an empty mall in Oregon ? (it was empty before, and it still is).

The progressive thieves have no idea how a free economy functions. They want to nationalize all of our remaining industry and then give the citizens 'what they need' as a socialist nation. Freeloading fleabags!

Throw the scum-weavles out before they bring the entire place down around our ears.

by mrsb8 August 18, 2010 8:45 PM EDT
Interesting how they really don't mention the specific fundraising event that Obama headed to after his "backyard chat". He was downtown raising money for Strickland (horrible Governor).

I would find his little "backyard chat" more authentic if he hadn't brought the press along and had just talked to the family and neighbors without flashbulbs and cameras rolling.

by Quantrill13 August 18, 2010 8:05 PM EDT
How do you "hope and changers" like Barry Obama now? He has no clue how to govern a PTA meeting, much less America! What a joke!