Gallup delivers a sober analysis its latest health care poll findings: “These results do not coalesce into a terribly optimistic picture of Americans’ views of the perceived impact of healthcare reform.” That would be putting it mildly. The findings show that Americans are not buying President Obama’s claims that legislation would improve quality, expand access, and reduce costs among the general population, and the numbers get worse when people are asked how they think the proposed changes would effect them personally.

Specifically, the poll found a minority 44 percent thought legislation would improve the nation’s medical care, while just 26 percent said it would improve their own; 47 percent said it would expand access overall, compared to 21 percent who said it would expand their own access; just 30 percent bought the idea that health care costs would go down, and only 18 percent said their own costs would fall.

Put it all together, and it means that Obama’s arguments have failed to convince a skeptical public as it is, and his approval ratings continue to get worse with each passing day. (See: NPR Poll Finds Tough Sledding For Obama.)

UPDATE: The NPR poll also found, “when asked about the plan now moving through Congress, a plurality of 47 percent was opposed and 42 percent said they were in favor, based on what they had heard about the plan so far.”