Barack Obama might have been in office for less than a week,
but the euphoria is beginning to wane.
The new President's approval ratings have fallen from a stratospheric
83 per cent to a more modest - although still impressive - 68
per cent.
Washington analysts said the scale of the drop in the Gallup
poll underlines the immense challenges Mr Obama faces in trying
to turn round the U.S.'s battered fortunes.
He still remains vastly more popular than his predecessor George
Bush - who left office with around 25 per cent approval.
(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)
But there were signs yesterday that reality has set in following
the wave of optimism surrounding his inauguration last Tuesday.
Mr Obama is facing an ugly battle with Republicans over his
plans to bail out the economy with £515billion of taxpayers'
cash. Opposition leaders claim the rescue package relies too
much on government spending and not enough on tax relief for
families and small businesses.
