WHERE OBAMA STANDS – AT 10:08 A.M. ET:  We reported yesterday on a new Quinnipiac poll that shows several Republicans – Huckabee, Romney and Christie – in a position to challenge Obama in 2012.  The poll also showed Obama's approval in the low 40s. 

Today's Rasmussen tracker confirms that Obama seems to be on a slight downward slide, although today's jobs report may help him.  What has clearly not helped him is his muddled, baffling response to Libya:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 25% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -17.

And...

Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. On Monday morning, before the president’s speech, that number was 47%. Today, fifty-five percent (55%) disapprove.

COMMENT:  The president's approval, according to Ras, has hovered in the same range for more than a year.  He may go down to the low 40s, as shown in that Quinnipiac poll, but he's never been below that.  So, while his numbers are very soft, they're far from hopeless. 

We should remember that Carter was ahead of Reagan in the polls during much of the 1980 campaign.  Reagan's victory was far from assured until the final weeks.  And Obama is better liked than Carter.  So poll numbers today are only telling part of the story.

April 1, 2011