January 13, 2012 11:59 AM
President Obama
The President is 10 months from the day on which the American public will give him his report card for his first term. As he approaches that day, the public’s grade for the job he has done so far is lower than any of six previous Presidents at the beginning of their fourth year in office. (He is tied with Bill Clinton at this time.)The President’s current job approval rating in Gallup is 42%. The following is the list of 8.
| Approve | Disapprove | |
| Eisenhower | 78 | 12 |
| GW Bush (II) | 59 | 38 |
| Carter | 56 | 33 |
| Reagan | 52 | 38 |
| Nixon | 49 | 39 |
| G Bush (I) | 46 | 47 |
| Clinton | 42 | 49 |
| Obama | 42 | 50 (1/7-9/12) |
Obama’s 52-week High 53%
Low 38%
Obama’s all-term High 69%
Low 38%
The following are several additional cuts at the President’s job approval rating over the last six months.
| NBC/WSJ | NYT/CBS | WP/ABC | CNN/ORC | |
| January 2012 | --- | 45/47% (CBS) | --- | --- |
| December 2011 | 44/61% | 44/46% (CBS) | --- | --- |
| November 2011 | 44/51% | --- | 44/53% | 44/54% |
| October 2011 | 44/51% | 46/46% | 42/54% | 54/52% |
| August 2011 | --- | 48/47% | --- | 44/54% |
| July 2011 | 47/48% | --- | 47/48% | 45/54% |
The only major survey that shows the President having a higher than disapproval rating is PEW, which, in its December survey, has the President’s job approval number at 46% to 43% disapproval.
On his handling of the economy Obama scores a 38% approval rating and a 55% disapproval. The President’s handling of foreign policy is more favorably viewed, with 46% approving and 37% disapproving. [CBS 1/12]
By 41% to 34%, the public has more confidence in Obama and the Democrats in Congress, as opposed to the Republicans in Congress, on potential handling of payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits in February. [Gallup 12/11]
It is increasingly clear that the White House has shifted into campaign mode. While the line from the White House is that the President is primarily focusing on government action, a casual look at his schedule suggests a campaign tint to the selection of the places he is visiting and plenty of time for fundraising.
