YIKES – AT 9:36 A.M. ET:  Rasmussen's daily tracker has some very grim news for the president: 

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 24% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-six percent (46%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -22 (see trends).

This matches the lowest Approval Index rating yet measured for this president.

I have to believe that Michelle's excellent Spanish adventure played a role here.  It did not go down well with the public.  She should consider weekend outings with lunch boxes the next time she gets the urge to travel.  Bus trips are available.

I can't imagine the president's "strongly approve" number getting much below 24%, because you're down to the president's hard-core, kamikaze base.  If he starts losing the true believers, he's lost forever.

Overall, 43% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove.

Rasmussen cautions that these are one-day numbers.  They can be higher or lower tomorrow.  Still, they paint a portrait of a president in deep trouble. 

Rasmussen keeps track of press coverage of Mr. Obama, and reports that this coverage got dramatically more favorable in the past week.  Can't figure that.  Maybe the media is falling in line to support the Dems during the upcoming election campaign.

August 11, 2010