More Americans disapprove of how president is handling his job

U.S. President Barack Obama

From online reports

For the first time since he took office Jan. 20, 2009, more Americans disapprove (48 percent) of the job President Barack Obama is doing than approve (45 percent), according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.

The same poll shows 62 percent of Americans believe the nation is on the “wrong track,” the most negative view of the nation since Obama took office.

Fifty percent of poll participants disapprove of Obama’s handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, viewed as the No. 2 most important issue behind the economy by those interviewed.

Obama had a more favorable rating than many other political entities. When read a name and asked whether they had a positive or negative sentiment, 47 percent of respondents had a positive response to Obama. Meantime, 35 percent had a positive response to the Democratic Party, 34 percent to the tea party movement, 30 percent to the Republican Party and 29 percent to both former vice presidential candidate and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and former President George W. Bush.

Regarding Congress, 57 percent said they would prefer to elect a new representative than send back an incumbent.

The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent, was based on telephone interviews conducted June 17-21 with 1,000 adults.