WHERE OBAMA STANDS – AT 10:42 A.M. ET:  We prefer using the Rasmussen survey as our poll of choice here because Scott polls likely voters, the most reliable measure of what may happen in an election.  By that measure, President Obama is in serious trouble.

The president enjoyed a brief spurt of popularity after the bin Laden raid, but now is slipping back badly, alarmingly if you're a Democrat, to some of his worst numbers.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 21% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -20.

And...

Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Fifty-five (55%) at least somewhat disapprove.

We haven't seen numbers like that since April 11th. 

This tends to confirm the trend we've seen from other polls.  The Gallup poll showed a generic Republic defeating Mr. Obama right now.  Trouble is, there's no such thing as a generic Republican.  The GOP candidate will have a name, which may either be our fortune or misfortune. 

Clearly, the president's numbers can turn around if the economy starts to gain.  So far, we've seen no sign of that.

June 18, 2011