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Obama Approval Averages 45% in February
Forty-seven percent disapproving mirrors the 50% calling his presidency a "failure"
by Lydia Saad
PRINCETON, NJ -- President Obama's average job approval rating for the month of February in Gallup Daily tracking was 45%, with 47% disapproving, unchanged from January.
Obama's job approval in February exceeds the lows seen last summer, when his monthly approval rating dipped to 41% from August through October. That followed a slide from 50% in May after the successful U.S. military mission in Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden. However, despite the recent improvement in his score, it has yet to recover to the level seen at the start of 2011, when 49% approved and 43% disapproved.
Apart from the rally in approval after the bin Laden mission, the last time Obama's monthly approval rating averaged 50% or better was two years ago, in February 2010.
The 50% approval mark is a crucial one for presidents in a re-election year. All incumbents who have been elected to a second term had a 50% or higher average approval rating by February of that year, and in the case of all but George W. Bush, they maintained that through Election Day.
Whether Obama can break out of this inauspicious pattern in an election year remains to be seen. But it is noteworthy that no elected president from Dwight Eisenhower through George W. Bush saw his approval rating drop below 50% for this long leading up to his re-election year. Rather, all seven presidents -- including Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, both of whom lost their re-election bids -- received at least 50% approval at some point late in their third year or early in their fourth year, if not routinely throughout their first term.
Apart from his monthly averages, and aside from the bin Laden rally period, the last time Obama had approval ratings of 50% or better for even several consecutive days in Gallup Daily tracking was in January 2011. Obama's sub-50% approval ratings are continuing thus far in March, with his approval rating registering between 43% and 48% in Gallup's three-day rolling averages.
That half of Americans say Obama's presidency to date has been a "failure" underscores the challenge the president faces in convincing voters he deserves a second term. The 44% today saying Obama has been a success contrasts with the 64% saying this of Bill Clinton just a few months before his re-election in 1996.
Most Democrats consider Obama's presidency a success while most Republicans call it a failure. Independents' views are similar to the national average, with the slight majority calling it a failure.
Bottom Line
President Obama averaged 45% approval from Americans in February, slightly improved over the 41% last summer, but no higher than it was in January, suggesting the rebound from last summer's lows has slowed or stalled. Apart from a brief spike to 50% average approval last May after the killing of bin Laden in Pakistan, Obama has not enjoyed sustained majority approval from Americans since his first year in office -- a dubious distinction in the history of modern presidents.
Obama still has time to correct that, and with 45% average approval last month, he is not far from the mark. Gallup polling also shows him running competitively against his potential Republican challengers in voter preferences for the fall election.
Explore President Obama's approval ratings in depth and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.
Survey Methods
Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking Feb 1-29, 2012, with a random sample of 13,999 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±1 percentage point.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents by region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both, cell phone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2011 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
The questions reported here were asked of a random half-sample of respondents for 27 nights on the Gallup Daily tracking survey.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
And yet, the Republicans still can't find someone who is an actual viable alternative this primary season.
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog
Melissia wrote:And yet, the Republicans still can't find someone who is an actual viable alternative this primary season.
Should get yourself a Royal family instead. The Queen has always been a more palatable head of state than any of our post war Prime Ministers. That's the trouble with our political system. Anyone who bubbles their way to the surface of the UK political swamp is usually a weasel. There are no inspiring political figures currently in UK government. At least with your system, anyone can theoretically be President (provided they have access to a fat pile of cash to fund their campaign).
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/08 13:23:32
Heh. Ron Paul would be rendered impotent even by his own party if he became president because of his nutjob ideas and inanities. Even assuming he did manage to get support, he'd quite literally wreck the country's economy putting his ideas in to play.
He'd be hampered by his own party even more than Obama is hampered by the republican "I'll oppose it because Obama supports it" attitude heh..
As for Newt and Santorum, only in the delusional dreams of extremists are they viable candidates.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/08 13:26:34
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog
How does this compare to George W Bush at the same time in his presidancy?
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Flashman wrote:
Melissia wrote:And yet, the Republicans still can't find someone who is an actual viable alternative this primary season.
Should get yourself a Royal family instead. The Queen has always been a more palatable head of state than any of our post war Prime Ministers. That's the trouble with our political system. Anyone who bubbles their way to the surface of the UK political swamp is usually a weasel. There are no inspiring political figures currently in UK government. At least with your system, anyone can theoretically be President (provided they have access to a fat pile of cash to fund their campaign).
The head of state is a ceremonial role. It's easy to come across as not being a scum bag when you spend your days waving at people and dossing around in huge ancestral homes.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/08 13:27:01
Ever thought 40k would be a lot better with bears?
Codex: Bears.
NOW WITH MR BIGGLES AND HIS AMAZING FLYING CONTRAPTION
Melissia wrote:And yet, the Republicans still can't find someone who is an actual viable alternative this primary season.
Should get yourself a Royal family instead. The Queen has always been a more palatable head of state than any of our post war Prime Ministers. That's the trouble with our political system. Anyone who bubbles their way to the surface of the UK political swamp is usually a weasel. There are no inspiring political figures currently in UK government. At least with your system, anyone can theoretically be President (provided they have access to a fat pile of cash to fund their campaign).
Have faith. I am raising the future Empress as we speak. Now that the future Empress is a teenager, the future Empress has a hard time getting up in the morning. Recently the Wife and I burst into her room on a Sunday morning, ripped open the blinds and started singing "Tommorrow" at the top of our lungs. Yes, we are that evil.
Alternatively dropping in a wriggling Rodney the Rocket sometimes works, but usually she just cacoons him in with her.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Flashman wrote:
Joey wrote:How does this compare to George W Bush at the same time in his presidancy?
IIRC, Bush was doing quite well as a result of kicking Afghan/Iraqi butt. That was before it all turned sour...
It notes Bush's performance as well. There's also a presidential timeline comparing approval rates to other presidents.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2012/03/08 13:32:53
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Melissia wrote:Heh. Ron Paul would be rendered impotent even by his own party if he became president because of his nutjob ideas and inanities.
Under the "Anyone But Obama" mandate, if Ron Paul somehow was the general election candidate for the Republicans, they'd have to back his policies of total anarchy as a form of government, emancipation of youths from their parents at the age of one second old, and the commission of the remaining federal budget to re-create the Lazarus Pits from Batman comics in order to continue extending his already impressive life span.
Melissia wrote:Heh. Ron Paul would be rendered impotent even by his own party if he became president because of his nutjob ideas and inanities.
Under the "Anyone But Obama" mandate, if Ron Paul somehow was the general election candidate for the Republicans, they'd have to back his policies of total anarchy as a form of government, emancipation of youths from their parents at the age of one second old, and the commission of the remaining federal budget to re-create the Lazarus Pits from Batman comics in order to continue extending his already impressive life span.
And yet that would still be better...
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Reminds me of a joke told on the economist's comment section:
Think of the advantages Satan could have in a presidential election over Romney or Obama, I can think of at least 10:
1. 100% Belief in the existance of a Christian God
2. Isnt black
3. Isnt a democrat
4. Why vote for the lesser evil?
5. Pro-slavery
6. Not even remotely black or mormon
7. Hates socialism
8. Likes war
9. Loves money
10. Has close relationships with previous GOP Presidents
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
The Economist however is still less right wing than the current Republican party in many areas (if you use the definition of right wing where you consider both social conservatism and free market economics are required for being right wing).
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2012/03/08 13:55:18
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog
Joey wrote:The Economist says that the devil hates socialism? Now that is interesting.
I imagine they are taking the view that of socialism as everyone working together to help one another as opposed to amoral self interest. There are certainly other ways it could be taken.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
Melissia wrote:Heh. Ron Paul would be rendered impotent even by his own party if he became president because of his nutjob ideas and inanities.
Under the "Anyone But Obama" mandate, if Ron Paul somehow was the general election candidate for the Republicans, they'd have to back his policies of total anarchy as a form of government, emancipation of youths from their parents at the age of one second old, and the commission of the remaining federal budget to re-create the Lazarus Pits from Batman comics in order to continue extending his already impressive life span.
And yet that would still be better...
I'm going to choose to believe that you're serious.
----------------
Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad
Melissia wrote:Heh. Ron Paul would be rendered impotent even by his own party if he became president because of his nutjob ideas and inanities.
Under the "Anyone But Obama" mandate, if Ron Paul somehow was the general election candidate for the Republicans, they'd have to back his policies of total anarchy as a form of government, emancipation of youths from their parents at the age of one second old, and the commission of the remaining federal budget to re-create the Lazarus Pits from Batman comics in order to continue extending his already impressive life span.
And yet that would still be better...
I'm going to choose to believe that you're serious.
I am. You can always fix a Libertarian's mistakes. Just let government do what it does best, get bigger.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/08 14:23:53
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Melissia wrote:Heh. Ron Paul would be rendered impotent even by his own party if he became president because of his nutjob ideas and inanities.
Under the "Anyone But Obama" mandate, if Ron Paul somehow was the general election candidate for the Republicans, they'd have to back his policies of total anarchy as a form of government, emancipation of youths from their parents at the age of one second old, and the commission of the remaining federal budget to re-create the Lazarus Pits from Batman comics in order to continue extending his already impressive life span.
And yet that would still be better...
I'm going to choose to believe that you're serious.
I am. You can always fix a Libertarian's mistakes. Just let government do what it does best, get bigger.
It's a lot harder to rebuild our nations infrastructure and economy than it is to switch to the gold standard and cut everything while wringing your hands all super villain like.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/08 14:33:31
----------------
Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad
Please wake me when Obama tries to rebuild our nation's infrastructure and the economy.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
You should already be awake, as far as the economy half of that goes. For infrastructure though, that has been disappointing.
Still better than the "effort" Republicans have put in to play on that area though.
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog
Frazzled wrote:Please wake me when Obama tries to rebuild our nation's infrastructure and the economy.
If he helps, he's increasing the size of the state and is therefore a vicious socialist.
If he does nothing, he's fiddling while Rome burns.
Miright?
Nope. You're pretty much wrong on everything after "If."
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Melissia wrote:No, that was in the comments section.
The Economist however is still less right wing than the current Republican party in many areas (if you use the definition of right wing where you consider both social conservatism and free market economics are required for being right wing).
Indeed The Economist is very socially liberal, IIRC they're very anti-death penalty and other such things.
Though this may have something to do with it being a British publication.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Frazzled wrote:
Joey wrote:
Frazzled wrote:Please wake me when Obama tries to rebuild our nation's infrastructure and the economy.
If he helps, he's increasing the size of the state and is therefore a vicious socialist.
If he does nothing, he's fiddling while Rome burns.
Miright?
Nope. You're pretty much wrong on everything after "If."
How can you critisise someone for not doing anything, while saying that if they do do anything they are increasing the size of the state, which you also regard as "bad"?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/08 14:42:23
Ever thought 40k would be a lot better with bears?
Codex: Bears.
NOW WITH MR BIGGLES AND HIS AMAZING FLYING CONTRAPTION
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Frazzled wrote:Please wake me when Obama tries to rebuild our nation's infrastructure and the economy.
Requoting me doesn't correct your own error. I didn't argue either of your "either/or" statements. You did. Now if you would like to argue with yourself about either of those posts thats fine with me. I'll go get some popcorn.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Frazzled wrote:Please wake me when Obama tries to rebuild our nation's infrastructure and the economy.
You've probably been awake for three years. Infrastructure reconstruction was the most visible portion of the stimulus.
Only a deminimis amount. hence his sudden desire for a capital spending bill in 2011.
if only he had in fact supported a massive capital spending program we might be in a different situation now. But as we all know "shovel ready" didn't really mean shovel ready...
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Only a deminimis amount. hence his sudden desire for a capital spending bill in 2011
That's not a word? Also, I don't feel like getting into an economics debate with you, we've done that dance and you have two left feet.
if only he had in fact supported a massive capital spending program we might be in a different situation now. But as we all know "shovel ready" didn't really mean shovel ready...
We have people like you to thank for the half-assing of it. You hated it then, are you changing your mind now?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/03/08 15:45:40
----------------
Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad
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