Next year’s election is still far away, but it does not look very good right now for President Obama, according to the Washington Post /ABC poll today. Half of people in the poll disapprove of how Obama handles his job as president, while 47 percent – down from January by seven per cent – approve.

Respondents are particularly unhappy with Obama’s economic policies, with 57 percent disapproving of the way he has dealt with the economy — the highest negative figure since Obama became president.

On the other hand, it does not look very good either for the seven potential Republican presidential candidates. Only 43 percent of Republican supporters in the survey are satisfied with the party’s candidates. In the last election, two thirds were satisfied.

Today, all seven are defeated in separate races against Obama in the poll. Mitt Romney does best, but still loses by 45 percent to Obama’s 49. Sarah Palin does worst, with 38 percent to Obama’s 55th

The weak support for the seven – Romney, Palin, Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump, Michelle Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, and Newt Gingrich – among the party’s supporters illustrates the fact this is a weak field, with several unfamiliar faces for the broader electorate; Tea Party favorite Michelle Bachmann as too extreme; Trump, the real estate tycoon, who see sees this as a good opportunity for some PR, as a bad joke. And no one knows what Palin is planning.

So, only Romney and maybe Mike Huckabee remain, although Huckabee, who now earns big money on Fox News, has not yet decided if he will run.

The economy continues to be the biggest stumbling block for Obama even though the unemployment figures today must be encouraging for the White House. In all 34 states, unemployment fell in March compared with February and increased in only seven states. Compared with a year ago, unemployment fell in 44 of 50 states. With each new sign of lower unemployment and a stronger economy, the chances of the seven to defeat Obama decrease. A weak field becomes even weaker.