POLITICO-GW Poll: 35% Approve of Obama’s Handling of the Economy

The latest Politico-GW Battleground poll shows President Obama’s approval rating on economic issues might put his re-election at risk. In an election that could be about whether or not to rehire the incumbent, Obama is tied 43-43 with the generic Republican, but ahead of both Mitt Romney and Herman Cain. Among independents, Obama beat Romney 47-34 percent.

The president’s job approval rating is a less-than-impressive 44 percent among likely voters and only 35 percent approve of Obama’s handling of the economy.  According to Politico, these results are in line with similar numbers before last year’s midterm elections.

Lack of action on economic issues hurts incumbents of both parties. Three-quarters of voters believe the country is on the wrong track, up from 59 percent this May. Congressional approval is 11%, with 83% of respondents saying they disapprove of Congress. Whether that impacts their re-election is another story. In 2010, a year widely heralded as “anti-incumbent,” 86% of incumbents were re-elected, according to post-election analysis by GW Political Science Professor John Sides.

The poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%.