Barack Obama's initial approval rating is highest since JFK
Do we still like President Obama? After all, it's been a whole week.
According to the latest Gallup poll, the answer is mostly yes.
The day after taking office, Obama had an approval rating of 69% -- the highest of any new president since John F. Kennedy, who entered with 72% national approval, Saturday's poll results said.
While an impressive rating, Obama might be a bit disappointed to find out that he dropped 14% since the last poll a couple of weeks ago, when he had an astounding 82% approval.
But since the latest poll, Obama has made some controversial decisions, such as announcing plans to close the prison at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, taking a firm stance for abortion rights and a suspected missile attack on Pakistan.
Such swift actions could end up swaying those 12%, who initially disapproved of the new president, or the 21%, with no opinion.
President Bush's approval rating hit a low of 25% shortly before leaving office, then rebounded slightly to 34% by Jan. 20.
It's not clear whether Bush's thrilling, ninja-like shoe dodge had any correlation with the poll upturn.
-- Mark Milian
The Ticket currently has an approval rating of 100% based on a poll of more than 2,000 Twitter subscribers. Show us your support by registering here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're on Amazon's Kindle as well.
Photo: Then-Sen. Barack Obama addresses a rally at South Bend Washington High School in South Bend, Ind., in April.
Credit: Joe Raymond / Associated Press
it's high because he has not done anything ...daaahhhh
Posted by: frieda | January 27, 2009 at 05:13 PM
He has a high approval rating? But what has he done?
Posted by: steve rodriguez | January 27, 2009 at 06:19 PM
It's an INITIAL approval rating.
"The day after taking office, Obama had an approval rating of 69% " I think people judge him on his potential.
Posted by: JtoC | January 28, 2009 at 03:03 AM
Maybe you should read the damn article again he tells you exactly what he did dumb people^
Posted by: racheal | January 28, 2009 at 08:14 AM
He's done more in his first week than the last year of Bush....
Of course, when the previous administration had spend 1/3 of the terms on vacation or in transit to vacations, you've got a low bar to beat.
Frankly, I'd take him doing nothing for 4 years over the regress of the last 8 anyway.
Posted by: Freedom Eagle | January 28, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Pres. Obama if you close GITMO and release many of the detainees into the world society. I can only say if America is attacked again, it's on your watch Pres. Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | January 28, 2009 at 02:00 PM
JFK was a fiscal conservative. When people actually see what Obama's intentions are his approvals will be around 25%. He did mention these in his run for office. So what if he's black! Its the idea's stupid.
Posted by: Robert Huber | February 03, 2009 at 06:24 PM