Barack Obama's 60 day, $100 million bid to define Mitt Romney as a latter-day Gordon Gecko failed miserably, according to a USA Today poll released yesterday.    

From the poll:  

"By more than 2-1, 63%-29%, those surveyed say Romney's background in business, including his tenure at the private equity firm Bain Capital, would cause him to make good decisions, not bad ones, in dealing with the nation's economic problems over the next four years.  

The findings raise questions about Obama's strategy of targeting Bain's record in outsourcing jobs and hammering Romney for refusing to commit to releasing more than two years of his tax returns. Instead, Americans seem focused on the economy, where disappointment with the fragile recovery and the 8.2% unemployment rate are costing the president.  

…The Democratic attacks on Romney seem to have had little effect on voters' assessments of him. In February, 53% said the former Massachusetts governor had the personality and leadership qualities a president should have; now 54% do. Then, 42% said they agreed with Romney on the issues that mattered most to them; now 45% do."

 
As troubling for BHO, pro-Romney voters are excited, and Obama supporters aren't.  And the whole "you didn't build it" thing isn't working out well for Barry either.  

More:

"Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are much more enthusiastic about the election, an important factor in persuading supporters to vote. By 18 points, 51%-33%, they report being more enthusiastic than usual about voting. In contrast, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents by 4 points say they are less enthusiastic than usual, 43%-39%.  

A record number of Americans express skepticism about the activist role of government Obama espouses; 61% say the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses. That's the highest number since Gallup began asking the question in 1992."

 
All in all, bad news for Obama on the issue that matters most. After $100 million and an orchestrated attempt to destroy the economic credentials of Romney, Obama's hole keeps getting deeper.