Sliding down the popularity chart, the approval rating of US President Barack Obama has dropped down to a new low of 46 per cent, according to a latest national opinion poll. CBS News in its latest opinion poll said only 46 per cent of the people now approve, and 41 per cent now say they disapprove Obama's performance as the US President. In last month's CBS News poll, 50 per cent of Americans had approved of how the President was handling his job, while 39 per cent disapproved, the news channel said, adding domestic issues appears to be driving down his popularity.

"Just 41 per cent now approve of his handling of the economy, which Americans say is the nation's most pressing issue. 47 per cent disapprove," it said. "The President's marks on handling health care, with reforms still under debate in Congress, are even lower just 36 per cent approve, while 54 per cent disapprove.

"Both of these approval ratings are the lowest of Obama's presidency," said the channel.

Meanwhile, White House press corps pressed Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as to why the President was reluctant to respond to media's questions in the past several months.

Obama's press conference with the media has been long due. "I don't see one on the schedule at least in the short term," Gibbs told reporters when asked about the next press conference with Obama. "Is he avoiding us?" asked a correspondent.

"No. Again, the last time we had this conversation here about the President's media strategy I was informed by many of you that the President was overexposed," Gibbs said.