The negative poll numbers continue to mount for President Barack Obama. The latest bad news: a poll by The Hill shows that 50 percent of likely voters believe the president’s policies have hurt the economy, while only 35 percent say they’ve helped. In June, 48 percent said he had damaged the economy, and 41 percent believed he had assisted it.

Among independents, whose support will be crucial if Obama is to win re-election, 52 percent say Obama has hurt the economy, while only 27 percent say he’s helped it.

To be sure, voters don’t think Republicans in Congress have helped much either. Asked who’s to blame for the economy’s morass, 48 percent put the blame on Republicans and 40 percent on Obama. Independents put the onus on Republicans over Obama by a 56 percent to 28 percent margin.