Was the debt ceiling the beginning of the end for Obama?

Three months ago, the Real Clear Politics average of all the polls that check the approval numbers for the president found that Americans approved of his job performance by a margin of about 10%. Of course, that may have been the after glow of the bin Laden killing. Two months ago, the president was back at a slightly positive rating, a place he had been before bin Laden. Since the debt ceiling debate burst into controll of the media story lines, however, Obama has fallen to about a 10% negative rating. Some polls, like Gallup, are showing worse results for Obama. He is at all time low approval of 38% and all time high disapproval of 55% in the Gallup poll. In addition, Obama's ratings on the economy have fallen to less than 30% approval on average. These are killer numbers for a president. Not only is he disliked by more than the number who like him, but on the most important issue to the public he is almost devoid of support.

The truth is that the debt ceiling debate revealed that Obama was unable, unwilling or both to deal with the crisis. He kept himself busy making speeches rather than resolving the dispute or even trying to do so. Now, he is supposed to be coming up with a plan to help increase employment. While many might wonder why, after almost three years in office, there has to be a month long delay before the plan is unveiled, few Americans are waiting eagerly to hear the Obama plan. He has lost the attention of the public and that is a terrible blow to the president.

If Obama loses in 2012 (and it certainly looks like he will), the debt ceiling debate will be seen as the beginning of the end.