Obama’s rating hits record low

Gallup daily tracking poll.
The survey, made public late on Sunday, shows that 39 percent of Americans approve of the president’s job performance, while 54 percent disapprove. Both figures are the worst numbers of his presidency, according to US media reports. Obama’s approval rating peaked at 53 percent in the weeks following the death of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in May. But it has been steadily declining in the wake of economic reports showing anaemic growth and Standard & Poor’s decision to downgrade the US credit rating. The three-day tracking poll of approximately 1 500 adults was conducted by telephone between August 11-13. It had a margin of error of three percentage points. Meanwhile, Obama set out to shore up his fragile political standing yesterday, launching a bus tour through key Midwestern states which will resonate with voter anxiety. – SAPA-AFP.