Obama's Poll Numbers Dive

The public is rapidly losing faith in President Obama, new polls show. His overall approval rating is below 60%—a USA Today/Gallup poll gives him 55%, putting him 10th among the 12 post-World War II presidents after six months in office. A Public Trust Monitor/Politico survey finds 54% trust Obama, down from 66% in March. Only 42% trust the Democratic Party.

On some key issues, the numbers are even worse. As many as 50% of respondents disapprove of Obama’s efforts on health care, and 59% say his proposals call for too much government spending. Meanwhile, only a third believe the stimulus package will ultimately help them. But Obama can take solace in the fact that Republicans poll even worse—only 36% say they trust the GOP. (More Barack Obama stories.)