Poll: Obama hits new low on economy

Half of registered voters view President Barack Obama’s handling of the economy as poor, according to a new poll by Rasmussen Reports. 

The percentage marks a new low for Obama on the economy since he took office in January 2009. After his inauguration, 52 percent rated his handling of the economy as either good or excellent. 

His support began to erode after he signed into law the $787 billion stimulus bill after taking office. Just 29 percent say it has helped the economy.

Poor marks on the economy for Obama come as congressional Democrats face uncertainty in November’s election. 

They are expected to lose seats in both chambers, which could be exacerbated if Obama is seen as ineffective on the economy — the chief issue for voters.   

Administration officials say the economy is improving, but their claims do not appear to be sinking in, according to the Discover Spending Monitor. It shows that 48 percent of voters think the economy is getting worse despite what they hear coming from the White House.