Poll Shows Rising Disapproval of President on Economy and Healthcare

A new CNN/SSRS poll has found record disapproval ratings for the president on the economy and healthcare as most respondents said his policies have raised costs. The survey, conducted from April 30 to May 4, reported that 77 percent of Americans believe the president's policies have increased the cost of living in their communities.

About two-thirds said those policies have worsened economic conditions nationwide. Disapproval on healthcare reached 65 percent, described by the poll as the highest level for any president this century. The president's overall approval rating stood at 35 percent, leaving him with net negative ratings that have persisted for roughly a year and have grown more negative in recent months.

The findings were released with less than six months remaining until the midterm elections. The poll surveyed 1,499 U.S. adults and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. Polling averages as of May 15 showed approval ratings between 38 percent and 40.3 percent, with disapproval ranging from 56.5 percent to 59 percent, according to aggregates from the New York Times, Silver Bulletin and RealClearPolitics.

The results come as the president has placed greater emphasis on foreign policy priorities than on domestic economic concerns. When asked about rising gas prices on May 12, the president said his focus was on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

>"I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. " — the president (USA Today) USA TODAY’s Kinsey Crowley and Joey Garrison contributed to the report.