Could Obama win a hypothetical third term? Voters say no way

President Obama may think he deserves a third term, but voters are not convinced.

In a recent speech, Obama said that he could win a third term if the Constitution didn’t limit him to two. However, a new Monmouth University Poll reveals Obama is suffering from a bit of wishful thinking.

Just 26 percent of American voters say they would vote to re-elect Obama. Another 68 percent would vote for somebody else.

It’s no surprise that Obama would find little enthusiasm for another four years in the White House among Republicans (5 percent) or even independents (23 percent). However, his support among Democrats is not particularly strong as just 53 percent would back the incumbent for a third term while 43 percent of his fellow partisans would vote for somebody else.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a news release. “It’s not like the president’s claim could ever be tested for real.”

Obama currently has a negative 45 percent approve to 50 percent disapprove rating with the American public. That’s lower than the 47 percent positive to 46 percent negative rating he held in July, but it is similar to his job ratings from earlier in the year.

Currently, 79 percent of Democrats approve of the president’s job performance — similar to 80 percent in July — whereas 85 percent of Republicans disapprove — up from 80 percent in July. Independents give Obama a negative split at 39 percent approve and 52 percent disapprove, which is slightly worse than last month’s rating of 42 percent approve and 48 percent disapprove.

Meanwhile, Congress continues to earn a negative 18 percent approve to 72 percent disapprove job rating, which is where it has been wallowing for some time.