ATLANTA (AP) — Never have American voters re-elected a president whose work they disapprove of as much as Barack Obama's. But Mitt Romney can't take much comfort in that historical fact. They've also never elected a challenger viewed so negatively.

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Unless things change dramatically, this Election Day will mark a first, no matter who wins. The victor will be a sitting president with a slow economy, 8 percent-plus unemployment and an average Gallup job-approval rating below 50 percent. Or he'll be a challenger who isn't liked personally by a majority of the public and faces notable discord within his own party.

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Some Republicans point with hope to 1980 and challenger Ronald Reagan's victory over President Jimmy Carter. Democrats point out that this isn't 1980, and a lot has changed.

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