WASHINGTON (TIP): Barack Obama is the worst US President since World War II, 33 per cent of Americans have said in a new poll released on July 2 which gave negative grades for him for his handling of key issues like the economy, foreign policy, terrorism, heatlhcare and environment.

America would be better off if Republican Mitt Romney had won the 2012 presidential election, 45 per cent of voters say, while 38 per cent say the country would be worse off, according to the Quinnipiac University National Poll. American voters say 54 – 44 per cent that the Obama Administration is not competent running the government.

The president is paying attention to what his administration is doing, 47 per cent say, while 48 per cent say he does not pay enough attention, according to the poll. 52-year-old Obama, now in his second term, is the worst president since World War II, 33 per cent of American voters say while another 28 per cent pick his predecessor in the White House, President George W Bush.

Ronald Reagan is the best president since WW II, 35 per cent of voters say, with 18 per cent for Bill Clinton, 15 per cent for John F Kennedy and 8 per cent for Obama, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.Among Democrats, 34 per cent say Clinton is the best president, with 18 per cent each for Obama and Kennedy. Obama has been a better president than George W Bush, 39 per cent of voters say, while 40 per cent say he is worse. Men say 43 – 36 per cent that Obama is worse than Bush while women say 42 – 38 per cent he is better.

Obama is worse, Republicans say 79 – 7 per cent and independent voters say 41 – 31 per cent. Democrats say 78 – 4 per cent that he is better. Voters say by a narrow 37 – 34 per cent that Obama is better for the economy than Bush. Missing Mitt are Republicans 84 – 5 per cent and independent voters 47 – 33 per cent, while Democrats say 74 – 10 per cent that the US would be worse off with Romney.

“Over the span of 69 years of American history and 12 presidencies, President Barack Obama finds himself with President George W Bush at the bottom of the popularity barrel,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. “Would Mitt have been a better fit? More voters in hindsight say yes,” the Quinnipiac press release says. A series of political controversies, economic woes and foreign policy crises have hit Obama’s reputation.