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Obama's approval rating drops six points since re-election

The American public’s opinion of President Obama has fallen to campaign-season lows, with his approval rating now at just 47%—a six-point drop since
President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about his proposed 2014 budget as he stands with acting budget director Jeff Zients in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about his proposed 2014 budget as he stands with acting budget director Jeff Zients in the Rose Garden at the...

The American public’s opinion of President Obama has fallen to campaign-season lows, with his approval rating now at just 47%—a six-point drop since December, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Thursday.

Currently, 48% of American disapprove of the job Obama is doing, making this most recent poll the first time his ratings have been underwater since August 2012. This is also the first time the president's approval has been below 50% since just before his re-election.

"Despite majorities backing the broad outlines of his legislative priorities on immigration and guns, President Obama confronts a pessimistic public and declining poll numbers,” said NBC News' Mark Murray.

Only 31% of those surveyed are optimistic that the country is heading in the right direction, which is a 10-point decline since December. However when it comes to the economy, 47% approve of the president’s economic handling, up 3-points from February.

His overall approval rating is, “due to pessimism about the economy and the country’s general direction,” Murray said.