2010-12-10 09:07

WASHINGTON - More than half of Americans say they are worse off under Obama's two-year presidency, according to a Bloomberg National Poll released Thursday.

Fifty-one percent of respondents say their situation has deteriorated since President Barack Obama took office in early 2009, while 35 percent say they are better off now, the survey shows.

Sixty-six percent think the nation is headed in the wrong direction, the worst reading since the Bloomberg National Poll began in September 2009.

Jobs remain the top concern among the American public, with 50 percent of respondents identified unemployment as the biggest problem facing the country.

US jobless rate rose to 9.8 percent in November, well above the reading of 7.4 percent in December 2008, the month before Obama's inauguration.

Americans' dissatisfaction with the job market and direction of the country was well reflected in results of the midterm elections last month, with Democrats losing control of the House of Representatives and significant number of seats in the Senate.

Even though Obama is still personally popular among the public, his job approval rating has remained below 50 percent for some time, which might indicate a tough way ahead toward his reelection.