Washington (CNN) - The gridlock and partisanship that threatens to ruin Christmas in Washington could be an election year gift for President Barack Obama's campaign.

A growing number of voters , 50% compared to 44% in March, trust Obama to solve the nation's problems while the percentage of those with faith in congressional Republicans is slipping, according to a CNN/ORC International Poll.

CNN Poll: President's approval nearing 50%

For the Obama team, the poll numbers seem to validate the president's fall and winter strategy: Intone the jobs message like a mantra while squaring off against a do-nothing Congress and congressional Republicans in particular.

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Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama's overall approval rating remains in the mid-40s, where it has been since July, and he continues to receive much higher marks for foreign policy than for domestic issues, according to a new national survey out one year before he is up for re-election.

A CNN/ORC International Poll released Tuesday indicates that 52% of all Americans approve of how the president is handling the situation in Iraq, an indication that Americans tend to favor Obama's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from that country by year's end. Forty-eight percent of those questioned approve of how he is handling the war in Afghanistan. By contrast, only 35% have a positive view of his economic track record, and just 38% approve of how he is handling health care policy.

Full results (pdf)

It all adds up to an overall 46% approval rating for the president, with 52% saying they disapprove of how Obama is handling his job in the White House.

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The guys over at the Political Ticker have a new post up about President Obama's approval rating that's definitely worth checking out. Here's the highlight:

According to the CNN Poll of Polls, which is an average of the most recent national surveys, 45 percent of Americans approve of how the president is handling his job and 51% disapprove.

Check out the whole article here.

Earlier this week President Obama told an interviewer he felt he was "absolutely" the underdog in the upcoming 2012 presidential election.  The president pointed to the struggling economy as the reason.  But in the end, Mr. Obama said the 2012 election would "be a contest of values and vision" believing his vision would be more persuasive to the American people.  What do you think?

The 1600 Blog's daily roundup of what the White House is reading this morning online and in the papers:

*What, Obama worry? NY House district elects first Republican since 1920  [LA Times]

*White House pushed $500 million loan to solar company now under investigation [Washington Post]

*On jobs bill, White House bets on Boehner's support [Politico]

*Obama's disapproval rating hits new high [CNN.com]

*Obama's jobs plan complicates task of debt panel [BusinessWeek]

And to check out the coverage of today's trip to Raleigh in the local newspaper:

*If Obama can help, Apex is listening [Raleigh News Observer]

*Obama struggling in North Carolina [USAToday.com]