Four out of 10 Americans consider Obama's Olympics trip a 'bad idea'

Washington, Oct. 2 (ANI): Most Americans think that President Barack Obama's Copenhagen trip to lobby International Olympic Committee officials is a bad idea, a new Rasmussen Report poll has revealed.

Forty-three percent of respondents said it was "a bad idea for the President to go overseas at this time to help Chicago make its final presentation to the Olympic Committee."

Thirty-six percent of those polled said it was a good idea while 21 percent were not sure.

Out of the 1,000 adults surveyed, almost half (49 percent) said they are following the president's trip, Politico reports.

Obama and his wife, Michelle are in Copenhagen to lobby for his hometown Chicago's bid that is competing with Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

He has been severely criticized by numerous top Republicans for leaving the country during the middle of a contentious health care debate to stump for the Olympics.

"Listen, I think it's a great idea to promote Chicago, but he's the president of the United States, not the mayor of Chicago," said House Minority Leader John Boehner.

"Faced with a deadline in Iran, faced with 9.7 percent unemployment - where is the president? He's in Copenhagen, on behalf of Mayor Daley, trying to get the Olympics," Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich added.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said that the "first lady should have been the lead" on the Olympics pitch.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs fired back by asking, "Who's he rooting for?"

"Is he hoping to hop a plane to Brazil and catch the Olympics in Rio?" Gibbs joked. "Maybe it's Madrid." (ANI)