WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's leadership is being tested as his poll numbers dip and his supporters question his commitment to fight for them, analysts say.

Dozens of interviews this summer in six states conducted by The Washington Post and published Sunday revealed a growing sense of gloom and disappointment by the president's supporters over his administration's present course, especially coming after an August congressional recess dominated by angry attacks from opponents of his healthcare reform agenda.


Many say his fundamental approach of reaching out to Republicans to find bipartisan consensus on contentious issues isn't working and that his strategy of allowing Congress to work out compromises is failing, contending that a more forceful Obama presence is needed to regain political momentum from his vocal critics, the Post said.

"Until last week, he was still trying to play ball with the Republicans who said, 'We're going to bring you down,'" Karen Davis, 42, a Jersey City, N.J., musician who raised funds for Obama last year, told the newspaper. "Now I'm thinking, 'This isn't what I voted for.'"

Freshman Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson of Florida said Obama needs "to not only combat the lies, but to combat the liars."