RASMUSSEN - CONTINUED BAD NEWS FOR OBAMA - AT 11:05 A.M. ET:  We always stress that polls are snapshots in time, and that the trend is what counts.  By that measure, though, President Obama is in trouble.  Since June 30th, now more than two weeks, he's done poorly in the Rasmussen poll, and there's nothing ahead that looks like it might change the trend.  Today's report:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 29% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-six percent (36%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of –7 (see trends).

Thirty-two percent (32%) now say the country is heading in the right direction That’s down eight points from the 2009 peak and the lowest since February.

COMMENT:  Overall approval, also down, stands at 51% approve, 47% disapprove.  If the trend continues, the president could slip below 50% for the first time in a major poll since his inauguration. 

We caution, of course, that if the economy revives, or is perceived to be improving, the president's numbers can go up again.  Perception could easily be supplied, especially during next year's midterm election campaign, by a compliant press eager to support its "narrative."

July 16, 2009