Obama Fails to Wow on the World Stage

Pollster John Zogby updates our weekly Obama Report Card with a grade on the president's performance. Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis, and interaction with major players to come up with a grade and some comments that capture how he sees the president's week ending.

John Zogby on Week 44:

"Remember when a president's foreign trip led to some sort of deal or big announcement, or at least fawning crowds that were a symbol of success? Thus far, none of the above has taken place for President Obama. The China trip was at best ho-hum. The Japanese trip led to an unfortunate and silly focus on the courtesy he displayed to Japanese tradition. There was no breakthrough in Korea. It's been a tour with no substance or glory, and Obama usually at least gets some glory. While he was on the road, contrary to U.S. wishes, Israel announced it was building more settlements. Sadly, Obama's lackluster travels are also a sign of the nation's diminished influence."

Grade: C-

Last week: C+

John Zogby is president and CEO of Zogby International, a public opinion, research, and business solutions firm with experience in more than 70 countries. Founded and led by Zogby since 1984, Zogby International specializes in telephone, Internet, and face-to-face survey research and analysis for corporate, political, nonprofit, and governmental clients. The firm is headquartered in Utica, N.Y. John Zogby also is the author of The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream (Random House).