POLL STUNNER - AT 9:56 A.M. ET:  In a stunning rebuke to President Obama, today's Rasmussen poll reports the worst numbers recorded for the president in Ras's presidential approval index.  This measures the gap between those who strongly approve of presidential performance and those who strongly disapprove.  That index this morning stands at minus 14. 

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 27% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -14. These figures mark the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President. The previous low of -12 was reached on July 30.

And...

Prior to today, the number who Strongly Approved of the President’s performance had never fallen below 29%. Some of the decline has come from within the President’s own party. Just 49% of Democrats offer such a positive assessment of the President at this time.

At the other end of the spectrum, today’s total for Strongly Disapprove matches the highest level yet recorded. The 41% mark was reached just once before and that came one week ago today. Seventy percent (70%) of Republicans now Strongly Disapprove along with 49% of those not affiliated with either major party.

COMMENT:  We always stress that polls are snapshots in time, and can change abruptly within a day or two.  But these are pretty jolting numbers, and the president will need all the distractions of Martha's Vineyard to get away from them. 

By the way, you may be sure that these polls are reported regularly by embassies in Washington to their home countries.  The attitude toward Mr. Obama by foreign ministries will be affected by his assumed popularity among American voters, and Rasmussen polls among likely voters.

Another cautionary note:  Obama's polling misfortune is not a guarantee of Republican resurgence.  The GOP's numbers are less than stellar, and need work.

August 23, 2009