Obama Dips To 49

President Obama's job approval rating has dipped to 49 percent in the most recent numbers from Gallup--the lowest number Gallup has given him since his inauguration. It makes him the fourth fastest president, since Gallup started keeping track of Truman, to fall below 50 percent--behind Ford (3 months), Clinton (4 months), and Reagan (also 10 months, but sooner).

It's not his lowest approval number--Zogby put him at 42 percent in August, and Harris reported him at 45 percent in October--but Gallup has usually given him the friendliest numbers of any polling agency, which is what makes this number significant.