Obama Support Slipping; GOP in Discord

President Obama is in hot political water but Republican contenders aren't faring much better, a new poll says. Obama's disapproval rating hit 50% for the first time in the New York Times/CBS poll, and reached 59% among the all-important independent voters. His overall approval rating, 43%, isn't great but beats Jimmy Carter and roughly ties Ronald Reagan at the same time in their presidencies, the New York Times notes. On the economy, a majority supports Obama's new jobs program, but nearly half predict a double-dip recession, and most say the US is off-track.

The poll also shows discord between Republican voters and candidates. While 8 in 10 GOP voters agree that Obamacare should be axed, at least partly, and that illegals immigrants should be deported, most say some form of global warming exists and that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry or have civil unions. Also, most Republican voters harbor reservations about their preferred candidate, and few independents like the GOP candidates at all. (More President Obama stories.)