Obamamania has turned to lukewarm support

Just twelve months after an election by a popular candidate, who famously appeared amid faux Greek columns and was lionized by adoring crowds, the luster has faded.

From a report at the link below:

A year on from a historic election, the spirit of popular goodwill that yielded America's first black president has retreated to tepid support for Barack Obama as he presses his change agenda.


Since then, Obama's visage has been everywhere, conspicuously on the streets of the nation's capital where millions of foreign and domestic tourists have visited over the past year, many of them snatching up poignant souvenirs.

What a difference a year makes.

A quick look around downtown Washington confirms that the Obama trinkets are still for sale, but more than one strategically placed street hawker have found little point in displaying the T-shirts, posters, and "Yes We Can" buttons bearing the new president's image.


"They stay in the truck," grumbled a vendor who identified himself as "Dick," as he pointed to a rusty vehicle behind him. "They don't sell anymore."

Indeed, Obama's honeymoon with the American people lasted less than six months.

After his inauguration in January, Obama's approval rating soared to 70 percent.

He very quickly charged into controversial programs to rescue the economy, including the manhandling of US auto manufacturers and pushing through a 787-billion-dollar stimulus plan.

In late April, at the end of the first 100 days in office, Obama still enjoyed more positive reviews than his predecessors in the previous 20 years.

His fall was soon to come as questions started simmering about the Mr. Obama’s ability to pull the US economy out of a nosedive.

In July, his popularity dipped even below that of predecessor George W. Bush in the same period of his presidency.

Since mid-October, it has hovered just above 50 percent, a "significant drop" from his earlier numbers, according to Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup Poll.

"In general, this puts Obama's current ratings slightly below average for all US presidents since World War II," Newport told AFP.

A monthly approval index by Rasmussen Reports showed 29 percent of those polled strongly approve of Obama's performance, compared to 39 percent who strongly disapprove giving him an approval index of -10.

Mr. Obama had the worst poll rating drop in 50 years as reported here.

More here.