New poll from Quinnipiac University (August 5 – 9, 1,301 RV, MoE +/- 2.7 %) shows President Obama's approval rating slipping to 56%, a five point decline from last month and down from his high of 68% in June.

As you might expect, Republican and Democratic attitudes about Obama are already fixed, so Obama's job rating decline in New Jersey this month is driven entirely by defections among Independent voters.

As you can see from the graphic below, Obama has lost a net of 19 points in his job rating with Independents in the last month, and is upside down with this group of voters for the first time:

Independent voters are even less impressed with Obama's handling of the economy: while Obama's overall rating on the economy is 52% approve/ 42% disapprove, with Independents in New Jersey it is reversed: 51% disapprove while 42% approve.

A small plurality of Independents (37%) think Obama's policies have helped the economy thus far (31% think they've hurt) but, interestingly, when asked to determine whether they believe the President's policies will help or hurt the economy "looking ahead," Independents tip slightly against Obama: 42% say his policies will hurt the economy, 39% say they will help.

The numbers are even more striking when voters were asked to evaluate their personal finances. Twenty-six percent (26%) of Independent voters said Obama's policies have "hurt" their personal financial situation, while only 10% said they have "helped."

Asked to "look ahead" at how their personal financial situation will fare under Obama's policies, the view of Independent voters is equally grim. Only 24% of Independents think Obama's policies will help their personal financial situation while close to half (45%) believe this administration's policies are going to hurt their personal financial situation in the future.

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