A majority of Americans now say Barack Obama — or President Downgrade if you will — doesn’t deserve another four years in office, according to a new Gallup/USA Today poll.

Fifty-one percent say he should be handed a pink slip in 2012. Just 47% would want him to stay on. And this is a poll of Americans rather than registered or likely voters. Democrats usually do better in in the former demographic than in the latter two.

Congress isn’t faring well, either. But overall approval ratings for Congress means little when it comes to election day.

Why? Because a voter in New York’s 2nd district might not like Congress overall but approves of his own member of Congress. So he votes to reelect the incumbent.

You might disapprove of Congress but like your own member. You only get to vote for your own member. Congress stays the same in that scenario. Only when people disapprove of their own member does the make-up change.

When it comes to the presidential election, however, things are different. Everyone votes for the same office. Everyone has the same choice. It’s easier to preserve a congressional majority than win or stay in the White House.