YIKES-A-ROOTIE – AT 7:16 P.M. ET:  As readers know, we've been following closely the president's decline in the Rasmussen poll.  It's sort of like watching the Titanic, and rooting for the iceberg. 

The latest report continues the relentless slide:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-five percent (45%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -22. That’s the lowest Approval Index rating yet measured for this president.

And...

Overall, 43% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Fifty-five percent (56%) disapprove.

Obama is moving toward the thirties, at least in this poll.  If he hits that magic number of 39, he'll be in George W. Bush territory, and he's barely moved into the White House.  Call the movers back.

There's more goodness from Scott Rasmussen:

Among men, 20% Strongly Approve and 50% Strongly Disapprove. Among women, those numbers are 27% and 40%.

There is some good news for Obama, but not from the Rasmussen poll.  Other polls show that the Hispanic vote is firming up for the Democrats, in response to the Arizona anti-illegal-immigration law, which Obama strongly opposes and which Republicans generally favor. 

Obama is taking steps to strengthen his base, such as inviting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House for a kiss-and-make-up session next week, and advancing action on the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.  But beyond the base, the Democrats see little reason for joy.

May 26,  2010