For the first time in the history of the Associated Press poll, a majority of Americans, 52%, say President Obama should not be reelected while only 43% say he deserves another term. As recently as last May, those numbers were reversed with 53% saying Obama deserves reelection, while 43% said he didn't deserve four more years.
Obama's overall job approval rating has also fallen sharply with only 44% of Americans approving, while 54% disapprove. As recent as this June, those numbers were flipped with Americans approving of the job Obama was doing as president by a 60% to 39% margin.
Going issue by issue, the numbers are even worse for Obama. Only 29% of Americans support Obama signature domestic accomplishment, Obamacare, while 49% oppose the reform. And as the Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to Obamacare's individual mandate next year, the poll found that 84% of Americans believe the federal government should not have the power to require all Americans to buy health insurance. Only 15% believe the federal government should have that power.
Majorities of Americans also disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy (60% disapprove), health care (55% disapprove), the federal budget deficit (62% disapprove), taxes (52% disapprove), immigration (56% disapprove), unemployment (53% disapprove), and gas prices (57% disapprove). The only domestic issues that Obama is has positive numbers on are the environment (55% approve), energy (50% approve), and education (53%).
Overall, 76% of Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction and 80% rate the economy as poor. But despite these numbers, Obama edges Mitt Romney in as head-to-head match up 47% to 46%. Newt Gingrich would get massacred by Obama 51% to 42%.
