Obama Hits 51% Disapproval as Speech Looms

With a major speech approaching, President Obama's disapproval ratings have once again climbed above 50%, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds. While 44% of Americans approve of Obama's work in office, the new poll finds that 51% disapprove. Some 44% say they're likely to vote Republican over Obama in the next election, while 40% say they prefer the president, in a reversal from June's numbers. Meanwhile, 73% see the country headed in the wrong direction—the highest such figure since 2008, the Journal notes. More than 70% say things will get worse before the economy bottoms out. (More President Obama stories.)