Obama's Approval Most Polarized for First-Year President per Gallup

[Jennicut]

Shows much greater party differences than approval for any prior first-year president
by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- The 65 percentage-point gap between Democrats' (88%) and Republicans' (23%) average job approval ratings for Barack Obama is easily the largest for any president in his first year in office, greatly exceeding the prior high of 52 points for Bill Clinton.

Average Difference Between Republicans' and Democrats' Job Approval Ratings of Presidents During First Year in Office

Overall, Obama averaged 57% job approval among all Americans from his inauguration to the end of his first full year on Jan. 19. He came into office seeking to unite the country, and his initial approval ratings ranked among the best for post-World War II presidents, including an average of 41% approval from Republicans in his first week in office. But he quickly lost most of his Republican support, with his approval rating among Republicans dropping below 30% in mid-February and below 20% in August. Throughout the year, his approval rating among Democrats exceeded 80%, and it showed little decline even as his overall approval rating fell from the mid-60s to roughly 50%.

Thus, the extraordinary level of polarization in Obama's first year in office is a combination of declining support from Republicans coupled with high and sustained approval from Democrats. In fact, his 88% average approval rating from his own party's supporters is exceeded only by George W. Bush's 92% during Bush's first year in office. Obama's 23% approval among supporters of the opposition party matches Bill Clinton's for the lowest for a first-year president. But Clinton was less popular among Democrats than Obama has been to date, making Obama's ratings more polarized.http://www.gallup.com/poll/125345/Obama-Approval-Polarized-First-Year-President.aspx





Yeah, the Rethugs really wanted the country "united"

[tranche]

1. Considering we're in the worst economic downturn since polling began. I'm not surprised.

Basically, even after the election I knew we'd all fall back to our waring camps. And with the economy the way it is and the way things crawl through our governments most independents would rightly give a thumbs down to the President.

He's got time and many of his initiatives should start bearing fruit in the next few years. There's a lot of money in that stimulus that's supposed to be spent on really good things (education and green tech). I just hope the American people and institutions find a way to make the best use of it, instead of frittering it away (which I'm afraid may happen).

[Connie_Corleone]

2. Of course it is.

When you have racists running around claiming the President of the United States wasn't born here, depicting him in racist caricatures, and crying "I want my country back" and he's trying to kill our grandparents, of course his first year presidency will be "polarizing".

[KingFlorez]

3. I would expect this sort of number

The Republicans have their reasons for opposing him and for most of them it's just because baseless, off the wall reasoning and because they are still angry they didn't win in 2008.

[gkhouston]

4. Do they not have these numbers for Truman or FDR? Or were they inconvenient? n/t

[Jennicut]

5. I don't think Gallup polled between Dems and Rethugs back then.

I really don't know why they wouldn't have the #'s. George Gallup polled for the 1936 election.

[treestar]

6. Republicans are extra-upset this time

It's not just a Dem President. It's a black Dem President.

[Oregone]

7. Don't discount that America is also growing uglier

And 24 hour biased news channels don't help

[Nancy Waterman]

8. Exactly. They are masters of framing things

Obama needs to take control of the message. Most of what people on both sides are angry about, he isn't even doing.
But the propaganda makes it so.

[Bitwit1234]

9. And the stupid butt media want us to include

anything and everything the republicans want in our laws and actions. Here we see all the want is for Obama to fail. WHY IN THE HELL IS CONGRESS STILL TRYING TO COWTOW TO THEM.

[HopeOverFear]

10. It's because he's black.

Period. Sorry, but that's the truth.

[timeforpeace]

15. Even if it's not, it's a very useful accusation.

[MadMaddie]

17. It really is that simple

It's sad and pathetic but this is America a country that is unable and unwilling to shed it's past and move toward the future.

When historians look back they will question why all other countries around the world made leaps and bounds and the U.S became stagnant......

[otohara]

11. The Hate Spewed Right-Wing TV & Radio

hasn't been this ugly ever. They hated Clinton, but at least he is white.

Has any other POTUS had this much vile hatred spewed at him in such a public manner?

[NoFace]

12. Didn't people pass up Hillary to avoid this exact situation...among others....nt

[otohara]

14. Irony.... nt

[Bragi]

13. Dems give good honeymoon /nt

[quantass]

16. More Bipartisanship!! Can't wait!

:sarcasm: