Obama's favorable ratings slide to new low: Gallup

U.S. President Barack Obama's favorable ratings have dropped to a new low, with more Americans now viewing him unfavorably than favorably, found a Gallup poll released Thursday.

Forty-seven percent of the people surveyed say they have a favorable opinion of Obama, compared to 52 percent who have an unfavorable opinion of him. That net favorable rating of minus 5 percentage points is the least positive personal assessment of Obama to date, according to the poll done from June 5-8.

Americans have generally maintained a positive opinion of Obama personally throughout his presidency even as his job approval ratings have averaged no higher than 48 percent in each of his last four years in office, Gallup said.

There were only three times when Obama's favorable ratings did not exceed his unfavorable ratings in the past: once in October 2010, just prior to the midterm Congressional elections, and twice in late 2013 during the troubled rollout of the Affordable Care Act.

Americans now rate Obama less positively on each of six personal characteristics Gallup asked about than they did last year.

The declines ranged from two percentage points on "being a strong and decisive leader" since last November to six points on " understanding the problems Americans face in their daily lives." But on all six dimensions, Americans' ratings of Obama are now below the majority level and are the worst Gallup has measured for him to date.

Americans are most likely to say that Obama understands the problems Americans face in their daily lives (48 percent), is honest and trustworthy (47 percent), and is a strong and decisive leader (45 percent). Americans are less likely to say he shares their values (43 percent), can manage government effectively (39 percent), and has a clear plan for solving the country's problems (34 percent), Gallup said.

Recent controversies involving the poor medical care for U.S. military veterans and the recent prisoner swap with Taliban have apparently had a negative impact on Obama's personal image, Gallup said.

"Democratic candidates face a strong headwind as they campaign in this year's elections," Gallup said.