Bush, Not Obama, Gets More Blame For Bad US Economy

A majority of Americans still believe former President George W. Bush is responsible for the sagging U.S. economy, according to a new Gallup poll.

In the poll, 68 percent of Americans said they blamed Bush a great deal or a moderate amount for the country's economic struggles, down from the 80 percent who held Bush responsible in 2008 but still a substantial amount.

The finding is a mixed bag for President Barack Obama, who has continued to put the onus for the ailing economy on his predecessor and on Republican obstructionism. While the fact that most Americans continue to blame Bush helps the president's case, the poll also found that a slim majority of Americans -- 53 percent -- blame Obama a great deal or a moderate amount for the state of the economy.

Republicans have seized on weakening job growth as an indicator that Obama is unfit to oversee the nation's economy. The high level of discontent with Obama's economic stewardship suggests an opening for likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who has built his campaign on the contention that he is better suited to rejuvenate the economy.

--