Obama draws higher marks on foreign policy

President Obama has received a higher approval rating for his handling foreign policy issues than domestic issues in a new poll.

Nearly half of the public, 49 percent, approved of how Obama has handled foreign relations while 50 percent disapproved, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. 

{mosads}On Afghanistan, more than half said the pace of the U.S. withdrawal is too slow. Troops are scheduled to leave by the end of 2014. That deadline could be pushed forward, however, because Afghan President Hamid Karzai has not yet signed a security agreement with the United States. About one-third said the withdrawal timetable is just about right, and 10 percent said it’s too fast. 

The poll found 57 percent said invading Afghanistan after 9/11 was likely “the wrong thing to do.”

On Iran, more than six in 10 approved of the interim nuclear deal between the United States and its allies and Tehran.

Forty-four percent, on the other hand, said the six-month deal is unlikely to curb Iran’s nuclear program, and prevent its government from building a nuclear weapon. 

Despite higher marks for responding to issues overseas, the public does not have as much confidence in Obama’s job performance at home. Forty percent approved of the way he has dealt with the economy and 39 percent approved of his job on healthcare issues. Obama’s overall approval rating, the poll said, is 42 percent.