With exactly a year remaining until American voters determine if Barack Obama deserves a second term, a new poll shows cause for worry at the White House – independents, in particular, have lost faith in the Democratic president. Moreover, Mr. Obama’s performance scores as many failing grades as it does soaring marks from the general public.

 

Thirty-five percent of independents, the critical mass of voters with the power to swing presidential elections, say Obama deserves to be reelected, while 56 percent believe he does not, according to a Christian Science Monitor/TIPP poll released Monday. Ten percent are not sure or did not say.