Poll: Obama hurting Dem chances in midterms

Voters are less likely to vote for congressional Democrats because they are disappointed with how President Obama is handling his job, according to a new poll released Monday by McClatchy.

By a 42 percent-32 percent margin, voters say that, because of the president, they’re more likely to vote for a Republican candidate this fall. And, for the first time, Republicans are winning the generic ballot measure, with voters more likely to say they’d vote for a GOP candidate by a 43 percent-38 percent margin.

{mosads}The troubling signs for Democrats are due in no small part to the president’s dwindling approval rating. Just 4 in 10 say they approve of how Obama is handling his job, tying for the lowest level in three years. 

A third of voters say they like the president’s approach on foreign policy — the lowest marks of his presidency — and only 39 percent approve of his handling of the economy, despite steady stock market and jobs gains.

Independents appear to be the president’s biggest problem, favoring Republicans by a 40 percent-26 percent margin. Some 53 percent of those not affiliated to a party disapprove of the president’s job performance, while 58 percent say his handling of the economy is subpar, and 64 percent express concern over his foreign policy.

Nor has the president been able to capitalize on congressional inaction to rally his base. Latino voters only back Democrats 40 percent-38 percent, despite Democrats slamming the GOP over failing to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the House. Women, who Democrats hoped they could rally, are more likely to say that they would vote Republican because of the president.

Still, voters’ frustration with the president has its limits. Of those surveyed, 58 percent say they oppose Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) threatened lawsuit over ObamaCare’s employer mandate. Nearly 7 in 10 say Congress should not begin impeachment proceedings, as was suggested by former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.