Obama's Approval in the Swing States

President Obama's national approval numbers sit at 44% today, which isn't as dreadful as one might think, given the quantity of recent speculation about how his sagging popularity may hurt Democratic candidates this fall.

But the real story isn't the national number, it's Obama's approval and disapproval in key swing states where competitive elections are taking place. Those are the numbers that have the potential to sway the congressional majorities when voters head to the polls in November.

To get a general sense of how Obama is performing, here's a roundup of his approval numbers in a handful of states featuring Senate and gubernatorial races rated as "toss-ups" by the Cook Political Report; competitive House races are scattered across the country, and many will take place in these states. Take note: Rasmussen typically gives Obama marginally higher disapproval ratings, nationally, than other polling firms do. 

Minnesota: 58% approve / 32% disapprove (Grove Insight)

California: 54% approve / 39% disapprove (PPP)

New Hampshire: 51% approve / 44% disapprove (UNH)

Connecticut: 50% approve / 40% disapprove (Quinnipiac)

Michigan: 50% approve / 46% disapprove (Glengariff)

Illinois: 49% approve / 46% disapprove (PPP)

Washington: 49% approve / 47% disapprove (PPP)

Wisconsin: 49% approve / 50% disapprove (Rasmussen)

Ohio: 45% approve / 54% disapprove (Rasmussen)

Colorado: 44% approve / 50% disapprove (PPP)

Florida: 44% approve / 51% disapprove (Ipsos)

Kentucky: 40% approve / 58% disapprove (Braun Research)

Nevada: 39% approve / 55% disapprove (Mason Dixon/LVRJ)

Pennsylvania: 39% approve / 57% disapprove (PPP)

Missouri: 39% approve / 57% disapprove (PPP)

Indiana: 39% approve / 60% disapprove (Rasmussen)

Kansas: 36% approve / 63% disapprove (Rasmussen)

Arkansas: 31% approve / 69% disapprove (Rasmussen)