Economy and Presidential race

From Mike Allen's "Playbook" on Politico.com, cited below, we see numbers that do not look good for the President from some people's perspective. The question still is will the drive by the President to make people focus on "I am fighting for the middle class and the Republican candidates want to just protect the rich and not tax them" message stick in the voters mind. Thus driving up the President's reelect numbers. A bigger issue I think for the President than the below numbers is the price of gasoline. Every American drives around town everyday see that $4.00 per gallon number and it is a constant reminder of how bad the economy is beating them up. Story below has good numbers and ought to be watched.

"TOP STORY - WashPost A1, at the fold, "Economy is battering Obama in the polls: Despite dip in approval ratings, he still edges 2012 GOP contenders": In the new Washington Post-ABC News poll, "47 percent approve of the job Obama is doing, down seven points since January. Half of all Americans disapprove of his job performance, with 37 percent saying they 'strongly disapprove' ... Driving the downward movement in Obama's standing are renewed concerns about the economy and fresh worry about rising prices, particularly for gasoline. Despite signs of economic growth, 44 percent of Americans see the economy as getting worse, the highest percentage to say so in more than two years.

"The toll on Obama is direct: 57 percent disapprove of the job the president is doing dealing with the economy ... When Republicans and GOP-leaners were asked who they would vote for in a primary or caucus, only former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney registered in double digits, with 16 percent. ... Businessman Donald Trump (8 percent), former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (6 percent) and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin (5 percent) were the only other names volunteered by more than 2 percent of respondents." Story http://wapo.st/hgpUux Results going back years http://wapo.st/dEPAwy."