Another matter that gets overlooked as well... part of that current 49% disapproval includes hardcore libs who don't think he's gone far ENOUGH toward setting America down the path of destruction. They'll bitch up and down about how much of a "disappointment" Obama has been in terms of not delivering the "change" they demanded in 2008, but they'll fall in line... they always do.
It's also important to know the "disappointment" factor permeates not only the left. The most recent FoxNews poll found 52% say they like Obama's ideas, but are disappointed many of them haven't been passed by Congress. The fact many haven't been passed is viewed as good news by FReepers, but we aren't representative of the public at large. We're far more conservative in philosophy.
We're going to know on the morning of the first Wednesday next November as to whether America chose the path of prosperity and freedom, vs. one of government ownership of our lives and future. While I'm not swayed by a single poll result, what I do consider are trends... and the trends show a disturbingly high percentage of Americans aren't quite ready to give up on Obama.
Firmly I believe that with the fall of faith in the US, that voters can hardly be expected to vote as if it were present and flourishing. It is not.
Our founding principles came by way of a faith filled people, but can not survive in a vaccum. We need to pull out our copy of De Toqueville now. What is happening was no mystery to him, in 1832.