No relief for president on approval woes

Despite a slightly better month for ObamaCare and the successful conclusion of a debt deal in Congress, President Obama remains stuck at his worst-ever approval rating, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Friday afternoon.

The president matched a late November poll from the same source by posting an approval rating of 41 percent, which is his all-time low in the CNN survey. Last month’s disapproval rating of 56 percent, also a record, was similarly unchanged.

Those dismal numbers mean the Obama has lost 14 points since the beginning of 2013. His numbers also put him in lockstep with his predecessor; President Bush ended 2005 with 41 percent approval.

According to the poll, 40 percent of respondents disapprove of Obama for being too liberal, while 12 percent believe the president has not been liberal enough.

The poll also found Americans divided in their attitude toward the recent budget compromise negotiated by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Forty-six percent endorsed the deal, and 42 percent were opposed. There was a significant partisan split, with Democrats showing 65 percent approval and Republicans 28 percent.

The telephone survey was conducted Dec. 16-19 with 1,035 adults.