Leadership Ratings For President Obama Fall To Annual Low

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses during a town hall meeting with young African leaders at the University of Johannesburg Soweto on Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The president is in South Africa, embarking on the second leg of his three-country African journey. The visit comes at a poignant time, with former South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela ailing in a Johannesburg hospital. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

As he mulls whether or not to do more damage than he has already done as it relates to the NAACP request, President Obama should consider how the American people’s assessment of his leadership have fallen to their lowest level in over a year of regular tracking.

A new Rasmussen survey finds that 43% of Likely Voters now consider the president a “good” or “excellent leader,” while 38% give the president “poor” marks for leadership. President Obama also now earns his most negative ratings on economic and national security issues in months.

According to the tracking survey, 40% of Likely U.S. Voters now give the president “poor” marks for his handling of national security issues. The same number – 40% – gave him “good” or “excellent” ratings in this area. This marks little change since late May but is the president’s highest negative assessment since March 2011.

President Obama has seen his average approval rating fall to a second term low, as well.

Rating for Obama on Issues

DATE	ISSUE	EX/GOOD	POOR
07-09-13	Economy	34%	46%
07-09-13	National Security	40%	40%
07-05-13	Deficit Reduction	33%	50%
07-05-13	Economic Fairness	36%	47%
05-04-13	Taxes	39%	43%
05-04-13	Gov’t Spending	34%	47%
06-29-13	Gun Control	36%	42%
06-29-13	Immigration	36%	43%
06-23-13	Job Creation	41%	40%
06-23-13	Issues Related to Small Business	37%	42%
06-15-13	Social Security	32%	42%
06-15-13	Health Care	38%	45%
06-27-13	Energy Policy	38%	42%
06-27-13	Environmental Issues	39%	37%