Poll: Many Who Disapprove of Obama Think He’s Too Conservative

According to a CNN poll released Friday, President Obama’s approval rating—42 percent—matches the all-time low he reached last month in CNN’s polling. His disapproval rating—56 percent—is unchanged, but still at an all-time high in CNN’s surveys. While the numbers are expected considering what a terrible year it’s been for the president, some may be surprised to learn that one in five of those who disapprove of Obama think he’s too conservative:

According to the poll, which was released Friday, 40% say they disapprove of the President because they say his policies and actions have been too liberal, with 12% saying they disapprove because he hasn't been liberal enough.

"The growth in negative views of the President comes almost equally from the left and the right," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Not surprisingly, the number of Americans who disapprove of him because he is too liberal is up six points since the start of the year. But the number of Americans who disapprove of him because he has not been liberal enough is up almost as much since January, indicating that his slide is due as much to disappointment as it is anger."

In December 2005, George W. Bush had the same approval rating in CNN polling, while at this point in their second terms Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had a 56 and 63 percent approval rating, respectively.