United States presidential approval rating

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In the United States, presidential job approval ratings were introduced by George Gallup in the late 1930s (probably 1937) to gauge public support for the President of the United States during his term. An approval rating is a percentage determined by a polling which indicates the percentage of respondents to an opinion poll who approve of a particular person or program. Typically, an approval rating is given to a political figure based on responses to a poll in which a sample of people are asked whether they approve or disapprove of that particular political figure. A typical question might ask:

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?"[1]

Like most surveys that predict public opinion, the approval rating is subjective. Many unscientific approval rating systems exist that skew popular opinion. However, the approval rating is generally accepted as a statistically valid indicator of the comparative changes in the popular US mood regarding a President.

Contents

[edit] President Barack Obama

Polling group's most recent poll for President Barack Obama:

Polling Group (Reverse Chronologically) Date Approval Disapproval Other
Rasmussen Reports[2] January 7–9, 2012 44% 55% 1%
Gallup[3] January 7–9, 2012 42% 50% 8%
CBS News[4] January 4–8, 2011 45% 47% 8%
American Research Group[5] December 17–20, 2011 46% 51% 3%
CNN/Opinion Research[6] December 16–18, 2011 49% 48% 3%
ABC News/Washington Post[7] December 15–18, 2011 49% 47% 4%
Associated Press – GfK[8] December 8–12, 2011 44% 54% 1%
NBC News/Wall Street Journal[9] December 7–11, 2011 46% 48% 6%
Fox News Channel[10] December 5–7, 2011 44% 51% 5%
Quinnipiac University[11] November 14–20, 2011 44% 50% 6%
McClatchy/Marist[12] November 8–10, 2011 43% 50% 7%
Time[13] October 9–10, 2011 44% 50% 6%
USA Today/Gallup[12][14] September 15–18, 2011 42% 53% 5%

[edit] Historical comparison

Obama joins the two most recent fellow Democrats (Clinton and Carter) and two recent Republicans (Reagan and Ford) in falling below 50% approval within the first year in office. His predecessor, Republican George W. Bush, enjoyed high approval ratings throughout his first years before they declined sharply in his second term. Historical Gallup Poll approval highs and lows for each President since 1937:[15][nb 1]

Order President Highest Approval Lowest Approval High-Low Highest Disapproval Approval Average[15]
44[14] Obama 69 (Jan. 22, 2009) 38 (Aug. 22, 2011/Aug. 27, 2011/Aug. 29, 2011/Oct. 6, 2011/Oct. 13, 2011/Oct. 17, 2011) 31 55 (Aug. 27, 2011/Aug. 29, 2011) 49[16]
43[17] Bush (G.W.) 90 (Sep. 21, 2001) 25 (Oct. 3, 2008/Oct. 10, 2008/Oct. 31, 2008) 65 71 (Oct. 10, 2008) 49.4
42[18] Clinton 73 (Dec. 19, 1998) 37 (May 26, 1993) 36 54 (Sep. 6, 1994) 55.1
41[19] Bush (G.H.W.) 89 (Feb. 28, 1991) 29 (Jul. 31, 1992) 60 60 (Jul. 31, 1992) 60.9
40[20] Reagan 68 (May 16, 1986) 35 (Jan. 28, 1983) 33 56 (Jan. 28, 1983) 52.8
39[21] Carter 75 (Mar. 18, 1977) 28 (Jun. 29, 1979) 47 59 (Jun. 29, 1979) 45.5
38[22] Ford 71 (Aug. 16, 1974) 37 (Mar. 28, 1975) 34 46 (Apr. 18, 1975/Nov. 21, 1975) 47.2
37[23] Nixon 67 (Jan. 26, 1973) 24 (Aug. 2, 1974) 43 66 (Aug. 2, 1974) 49.1
36[24] Johnson 79 (Feb. 28, 1964) 35 (Aug. 7, 1968) 44 52 (Aug. 7, 1968/Mar. 10, 1968) 55.1
35[25] Kennedy 83 (Mar. 8, 1962) 56 (Sep. 12, 1963) 27 30 (Sep. 12, 1963/Nov. 8, 1963) 70.1
34[26] Eisenhower 79 (Dec. 14, 1956) 48 (Mar. 27, 1958) 31 36 (Mar. 27, 1958) 65.0
33[27] Truman 87 (Jun. 1, 1945) 22 (Feb. 9, 1952) 65 67 (Jan. 6, 1952) 45.4
32[28] Roosevelt (F.D.) 84 (Jan. 8, 1942) 48 (Aug. 18, 1939) 36 46 (May 22, 1938/May 29, 1938/Nov. 7, 1938)

[edit] Graphs

Gallup Poll graphs of approval ratings for Presidents of the United States:

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Only the results of Gallup polls are included, as no other poll results exist for earlier presidents.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Presidential Approval Ratings – Barack Obama". www.gallup.com. http://www.gallup.com/poll/116479/Barack-Obama-Presidential-Job-Approval.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2009. 
  2. ^ "Daily Presidential Tracking Poll". www.rasmussenreports.com. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_history. Retrieved January 8, 2012. 
  3. ^ "Daily Presidential Tracking Poll". http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx. Retrieved January 8, 2012, 2011. 
  4. ^ "CBS News". http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20070207-503544.html?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.5. Retrieved June 8, 2011. 
  5. ^ "Obama Job Approval Rating". http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/economy/. 
  6. ^ "CNN Opinion Research Poll". http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/12/20/obama.poll.pdf. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
  7. ^ "Washington Post Poll". http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-job-approval-ratings-show-signs-of-improvement-post-abc-poll-finds/2011/12/19/gIQAdArC5O_story_1.html. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
  8. ^ "The AP GFK POLL". http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com/pdf/AP-GfK%20Poll%20June%202011%20Topline_Obama%20Economy.pdf. Retrieved June 23, 2011. 
  9. ^ "Interviews: 1000 adults, including 200 reached by cell phone". July 14–17, 2011. http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/A_Politics/July_Poll.pdf. Retrieved July 18, 2011. 
  10. ^ "FOX News Poll". Fox News. http://interactive.foxnews.com/presidential-poll/. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
  11. ^ "Quinnipiac Poll". http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1609. Retrieved June 9, 2011. 
  12. ^ a b "Obama: Job Ratings". http://www.pollingreport.com/obama_job.htm#Gallup. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 
  13. ^ "Time Poll". http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2079449,00.html. Retrieved June 23, 2011. 
  14. ^ a b Graphical display and numbers of Gallup "daily tracking" polls
  15. ^ a b "Presidential Approval Ratings - Gallup Historical Statistics and Trends". Gallup.com. http://www.gallup.com/poll/116677/Presidential-Approval-Ratings-Gallup-Historical-Statistics-Trends.aspx. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 
  16. ^ Obama Job Approval, Gallup Presidential Approval Center.
  17. ^ "Gallup.com". Gallup.com. http://www.gallup.com/poll/116500/Presidential-Approval-Ratings-George-Bush.aspx. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 
  18. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Clinton at the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
  19. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Bush (G.H.W.) at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  20. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Reagan at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  21. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Carter at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  22. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Ford at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  23. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Nixon at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  24. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Johnson at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  25. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Kennedy at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  26. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Eisenhower at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  27. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Truman at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.
  28. ^ Job Performance Ratings for President Roosevelt at Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.

[edit] External links

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