Barack Obama Worst US President Since World War II: Poll

Washington: Barack Obama is the worst US President since World War II, 33 per cent of Americans have said in a new poll released today which gave negative grades for him for his handling of key issues like the economy, foreign policy, terrorism, healthcare and environment. America would be better off if Republican Mitt Romney had won the 2012 presidential election, 45 per cent of voters say, while 38 per cent say the country would be worse off, according to the Quinnipiac University National Poll.

American voters say 54 to 44 per cent that the Obama Administration is not competent running the government. The president is paying attention to what his administration is doing, 47 per cent say, while 48 per cent say he does not pay enough attention, according to the poll.

52-year-old Obama, now in his second term, is the worst president since World War II, 33 per cent of American voters say while another 28 per cent pick his predecessor in the White House, President George W. Bush.

Ronald Reagan is the best president since WW II, 35 per cent of voters say, with 18 per cent for Bill Clinton, 15 per cent for John F. Kennedy and 8 per cent for Obama, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.

Among Democrats, 34 per cent say Clinton is the best president, with 18 per cent each for Obama and Kennedy.

Obama has been a better president than George W. Bush, 39 per cent of voters say, while 40 per cent say he is worse. Men say 43 - 36 per cent that Obama is worse than Bush while women say 42 - 38 per cent he is better.

Obama is worse, Republicans say 79 - 7 per cent and independent voters say 41 - 31 per cent. Democrats say 78 - 4 per cent that he is better.

Voters say by a narrow 37 - 34 per cent that Obama is better for the economy than Bush. Missing Mitt are Republicans 84 - 5 per cent and independent voters 47 - 33 per cent, while Democrats say 74 - 10 per cent that the US would be worse off with Romney.

"Over the span of 69 years of American history and 12 presidencies, President Barack Obama finds himself with President George W. Bush at the bottom of the popularity barrel," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"Would Mitt have been a better fit? More voters in hindsight say yes," the Quinnipiac press release says.

A series of political controversies, economic woes and foreign policy crises have hit Obama's reputation.

Obama's job approval rating, inching up since a negative 38 - 57 per cent in December, 2013, his all-time low, is stalled at a negative 40 - 53 per cent. This compares to the president's negative 42 - 50 per cent job approval in an April 2 national survey.

Today, Obama gets negative scores of 10 - 88 per cent from Republicans, 31 - 59 per cent from independent voters, 37 - 57 per cent from men and 42 - 49 per cent from women.

Democrats approve 79 - 13 per cent.

The president gets mixed grades for character as voters say 48 - 48 per cent that he is honest and trustworthy and 51 - 47 per cent that he cares about their needs and problems. He gets a negative 47 - 51 per cent for leadership qualities.

The economy and jobs are the most important problems facing the country today, 35 per cent of voters say, with 12 per cent listing politicians/campaigns/corruption, 6 per cent each for healthcare and foreign affairs, 5 per cent for the budget and 4 per cent each for education and immigration. Obama got negative grades for his handling of most key issues.

He got negative 40 - 55 per cent for handling the economy; negative 37 - 57 per cent for foreign policy; negative 40 - 58 per cent for health care; 50 - 40 per cent for the environment; negative 44 - 51 per cent for terrorism; From June 24 - 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,446 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.