Gov. Crist's approval ratings sink, poll shows

Birds of a feather crash and burn together.

The state's sagging economy and skepticism over the effects of the federal stimulus plan are resulting in the worst ever approval ratings for Gov. Charlie Crist -- a hit to his independent bid for Senate, according to a new poll released Friday.

It's the lowest job rating posted by a Florida governor in 16 years.

The same slide is evident for President Barack Obama -- who arrives in Panama City beach Saturday on his latest Gulf oil spill visit. The poll shows Obama's job approval rating dropping ``significantly'' to 41 percent.

Just 44 percent of the 625 registered voters in the Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey gave Crist ``excellent'' or ``good'' ratings -- the first time the perennially popular governor has hit below 50 percent, pollster Brad Coker said. Crist's positive rating slid from 51 percent in May.

Crist's ratings are still above the last gubernatorial low point: then-Gov. Lawton Chiles had a 38 percent job rating in July 1994.