Too early to tell if the numbers are in free-fall -- but this is a mighty significant drop in less than six days.

BARACK Obama’s approval ratings have nosedived by 15 points after only six days in office, according to a new poll.

The Gallup poll shows that reality is setting in for the new US President after the euphoria that greeted his inauguration last Tuesday.

But his ratings still stand at an impressive 68 per cent despite the fall.

Granted, 68% is nothing to sneeze at, but it is not the 80+ points of a week ago. And while nobody expected the numbers to stay so high, I don't think anyone thought there would be such a precipitous fall.