WASHINGTON (CNN) - So far, so good for President Barack Obama, at least in the court of public opinion.
A new national poll suggests that most Americans approve of the way Barack Obama is so far handling his job as President of the United States, the second such post-inauguration poll to give the new president rave reviews.
Sixty-three percent of those questioned in a Diageo/Hotline survey released Tuesday give President Obama the thumbs-up, with 9 percent dissaproving of the way he is handling his duties in the White House.
That 63 percent figure is in the same ballpark as the 68 percent approval rating President Obama scored in a Gallup poll released Saturday. Both surveys were conducted entirely after Obama was inaugurated as president one week ago today.
"It's difficult to make historical comparisons to this poll because in the past, pollsters usually let a few weeks go by before measuring a new president's approval rating," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "In 1993, Bill Clinton has a rating of 58 percent a few days after his inauguration. The elder George Bush had a 51 percent rating in late January of 1989, as did Ronald Reagan in 1981.”
But Holland cautioned that all of these polls were very preliminary, taken before the first State of the Union addresses of each administration - the first major milestone faced by modern presidents.
The White House has said Obama is likely to address a joint session of Congress next month for the first time in his presidency.
The survey also suggests that a solid majority of those questioned, 65 percent, are confident that the proposed $825 billion stimulus package will be effective in turning around the economy. But when broken down by party, only a minority of Republicans are confident. It's the same when it comes to whether the stimulus package will be spent and managed wisely, with 57 percent overall responding yes, but only a minority of Republicans agreeing.
The poll also indicates that a majority of Americans think it will take at least two years before the country's economy comes out of recession. That's in line with the findings of a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released earlier this month.
The Diageo/Hotline poll was conducted January 21-24, with 800 people questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for the overall sample and 4.9 percentage points for the breakdowns by party.
From CNN Politics
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Wow.. you'd think that we were done with polls after the election was over. Enough with the polling! I hope we're not going to continue having daily polls or a poll after every single sentence Obama utters. Let the man work and leave him alone.
He has not done anything yet. All he has done is undo Bush which may in the long run undo him. I hope Obama doesn't turn the White House into a Rescue Mission. He thinks talking to Arab TV is going to make nice. This guy is naive. They do not exalt him the way our celebrity saturated society has. I don't think he knows what he's doing.
He's only been in office a whole week, what's up with the poll?
Obama is only going to make our economic condition worse. The answer does not lie in a bailout. Obama may be a great speaker and motivator and inspires a lot of Americans but he is no economist nor are any of his cabinet members.
obama obama
I'll pay attention to the polls as soon as the President has accomplished something. These early polls are popularity contests and really are meaningless. After 8 years of Bush, how can most people help but like this guy in comparison?
63+9=72...what about the other 28% ? Unless there are a number of different polls taken over the same period and an average reached these polls are useless.
THIS IS A PRESIDENT ON A MISSION. I SALUTE HIM AND WISH HIM WELL.
he hasn't done anything yet... duh !
Give Obama a chance to straighten out the mess that the republican President left this nation in.
It wont happen overnight but it will succeed..
Failure is not an option with Obama.
I am proud of him. He will keep trying to help us all if the politicians will just get out of his way.
Jeez, he just got there. How's about we cool it with the incessant polling, and just let the man do his job.
Polls Schmolls.
No wars? No hunger? No job losses? No families destroyed? No soldiers dying for Bush/Rove/Cheney mistakes?
Only Polls and empty talking heads. shame shame shame shame
Same ballpark!? That's a 10% slip in the polls in the first week!! Leave it to the state run media to try and protray it as something it's not..
Sounds about right. I'm actually very impressed with what he's been doing myself. Not so much with everyone else in his administration (Pelosi and Reid need to shut up).
Good lord, the man hasn't done anything yet except declare the closing of Gitmo so Al Qaeda can be moved to the US in our own backyard and he gets a 68% approval rating? Just wait.
Slipping in the polls already are we?????
The pollsters never ask me...but I very much approve of what he's doing!!
It's going down. lol.
Odd, if this were about Bush, the story would be "BUSH SUFFERS A 5% REDUCTION IN APPROVAL RATING AFTER JUST ONE WEEK ON THE JOB".
The President is doing a wonderful job. He says we need a $825 billion stimulus package so we do.
He hasn't done much to earn any rating; his appointment of a tax cheat doesn't look that good, either!!!
quite a dramatic drop for Obumpler from the 86% only a week ago.
I expect the fall to continue as his inexperience becomes more apparant.
It seems that someone is looking for the polls to reflect negative ratings.
Why poll on a weekly basis?
What is it that the pollster is looking for so quickly.
If this week a give my kids allowance I'm pretty popular. If next week I do not give allowance I'm not as popular positivly.
I wish the MSM would let the President be.
He has been hustling and bustling to GET THINGS DONE in the last month more than Bush has done in 8 years in my opinion
Change is here get used to it.
falling, falling, ........
only a minority of Republicans are confident – I don't care about the Repulicans – they are in for themself.
The job looked so easy a week ago.
I totally disagree on hie decision regarding the abortion issue as well as em,bryonic stem cell research. Both involve destroying human life and I feel stronly that Pres Obama does not agree that life begins with coception. Aborting a fetus at any stage is immoral and the research on embroyos inveolve the creation of embroyo farms to harvest embroyoes for stem cell reearch. It is not necesary to do research on embroys when the adult stem cell research is just as good if not better.
What is with all the polls? I dont ever remember all these polls being taken during the beginning of G.W. Bush, Bill Clinton or G.H.W. Bush administrations.
What really gives? the man has been in office all but 1 week. Give it a rest aready.
83 – 68 – 63....looks to be dropping to me.
What's congress' approval rating now?
Can you do another poll this afternoon? My attention doesn't span a week and obviously yours doesn't either.
He has gone from 68% to 63% in one week. Not too good. He hasn't fixed anything yet. Hurry up Obama, America is waiting on you.
How about we take a poll of the approval rating of the media which is still so in the tank for BO, I want to scream. It's not that I don't like him, I'm sooo sick of every story gushing over him like he's a pop star. Give it a rest. As for the Obamas wanting to be a "normal" family, why did I just see them obviously posed on some lifestyle mag in the grocery checkout line. I've seen more pics of them and their kids thanall the other presidents put together. Yeah, those girls are going to be real normal.
Why don't you ask me what I think about Obama? You won't, of course, because I don't live in one of the big northern cities.
I'm telling you, he's good. Andrew Jackson would've probably give him advice...of course, probably not the same advice he's taking right now, LOL!!
Compromise between the republicans and democrats should produce a good stimulus package that will address the economy from different points of view. Taking out things that don't belong – like money for family planning and tax cuts for millionaires who only are investors and don't create jobs, for example. I know there is this myth that investors create jobs, but the fact is that they are no more efficient at creating jobs than any other member of our society and are less efficient than owners of businesses that produce products (I exclude companies that only provide services).
Great Job Mr. President
Let's see, he was at over 80% during the transition, 68% last week and 63% this week. Why doesn't the headline read "Obama popularity dropping like a rock"?
He is doing extremely well and I am overjoyed to have voted for him.
What a novice. Cannot even handle the press core without losing his temper.
I am waiting for a poll that is conducted hourly. My God, let the man do his job for a while then evaluate him. My opinion of him since only last Tuesady's innauguration, is that he is handling himself the way a President should. He is working his tail off and trying to cover all bases, including the middle east mess. Now call me next January 20th, and let's see where we are. I'll bet that if we are starting to turn the corner and we are improving, the Republicans will still find something to gripe about.(although I do believe $2 billion dollars for rubbers is going a bit far).
Let's not forget that Bush never went out of his way to work with the Dems. He just shoved it down everyone's throats. At least Obama took a limo ride to the Capital to at least try to work with the Republicans. McCain should remember that his suggestions for the economy helped him lose the election. That and that lady from Alaska, Sara what's her name.
poll based on nothing. no news is good news.
Barack Obama is the leader we need at this time in our Nation's history. His election was a clear mandate from, we, the People!
After eight long years of division and angst, we have an intelligent president. A man who is willing to reach across the aisle and unite our Nation!
What's baffling is how the "self-righteous-patriotic' far-right is SO set on spewing their hate and division! When we, disagreed with Bush's failed policies we were labeled .......anti-American....... when they do it...... its okay! Hypocrites!
HOPE WON....... HOPE WON........ HOPE WON........ HOPE WON!
Barack ROCKS. I do not think we will ever see approval ratings dip below 60%. Where was "W" when he climbed on Marine One on January 20? 22% ! Take that Rush!
Let us hope that this approval is not without foundation. He has plenty of problems that could dip his approval rating easily; just pick a problem: Iraq & Afghanistan, banking bail out, recession, credit problems, housing slump and the list could go on.
I hope that the Republicans don't be obstructionists without good reason. I am afraid that they will just be nay sayers with nothing good to add.
7 days....................let's see how he is doing after 7 months..........................not too impressive so far
Now if the story was about a conservative or republican the comments about 63% in the same ballpark as 68% would be:
Obama suffers worst approval ratings ever as president!
Obama's approval ratings crash. Loses 5 points in 3 days. Loses 1.67% a day. At this rate will have negative (below 0) approval rating in less than 38 days.
That would be important to Obama.
CONGRATULATIONS President Obama
YES WE DID !! and for Having the Most
Beautiful Inaugural Celebration of My Lifetime
and the Most Beautiful First Family with
2 Daughters with Stars in Theirs Eyes,
They Deserve the Best They Inherited From
Both of Their Awesome Parents !!
Of course we support him. We now have an intelligent, capable, sincere, honest President who is leading our country to betterment.
He cares about us and our country and will do all in his power
to to bring our nation back to the greatness we once had.
He's off to a great start- as I knew he would be! He will be one of our best Presidents ever.
The List of those who disapprove:
1. Sean Hannity
2. Rush Limbuagh
3. Dick Cheney
4. Sarah Palin
5. Senator McCain
6. The Black Guy who wanted Mccain to stick it to Barack in the Last debate
7. The little old lady who thought Pres. Obama palled around with terrorist
8. The whole Republican party
Drum Roll PLEASE....................................................................................
9. Yes the Man formerly known as President Bush
Hmmm, a drop of 5 points is GOOD now but during the election or even with President Bush, its considered doomsday.
I am for Obama but against the WE LOVE OBAMA media.
Report news not fluff. Give us credit in the United States. As well, stop reporting doom and gloom so that you can have docs on talking about how people are scared about the world's economy. Show some good stuff once in a while.
Jeez... what's the matter with you guys? YOu're all acting like my six year old "Are we there yet" son....
ease up a bit with these polls... maybe you should at least let the dust settle or allow the people an opportunity to absorb how the new Prez. is flexing....
Chillax...
i just wish that one morning i get of my bed and see on the news that all the republicans has vanished of the earth.
these morons on the right are pathetic.
God Help Us.
the 'con' goes on.
Praise Him, Praise Him... Anything to Raise Him... No Substance Barack Obama..
Barack Obama was the right person at the right time.
He Got This:
polls say pretty much what pollsters want them to say. And since the media is totally in the tank for Obama, these polls are hardly worth reading. The media weill never publish anything remotely negative about him.
The List of the 9 who disapprove:
1. Sean Hannity
2. Rush Limbuagh
3. Dick Cheney
4. Sarah Palin
5. Senator McCain
6. The Black Guy who wanted Mccain to stick it to Barack in the Last debate
7. The little old lady who thought Pres. Obama palled around with terrorist
8. The whole Republican party
Drum Roll PLEASE…………………………………………………………………………
9. Yes the Man formerly known as President Bush
He was at 83% pre-inaguration. Down 20 points in 1 week. Buyer's remorse?
Better than the GOP christ figure? baaahahahahahahahahahahhaha!!!!
Every time I read or hear "President Obama" I feel a bit more hope and a little bit happier.
I'm grateful to be alive in America in the post-Bush era. This is a new day.
He appointed a tax cheat to Treasury Secretary. Apparently you people in the media are doing a great con job!!!
We'll see how much support he has a year from now!
How is a 20 point DROP in his approval rating since just before the inauguration constitute scoring "well"? Did Bush ever drop 20 points in less than 10 days???
Naming your team roster is exciting. But pretty soon, it'll be Game Time.
His poll numbers will stay high all eight years.
Loving God help us response!! You forgot Elisabeth Haselbeck, and Bill Oreally. HAHA...He is doing great, and I love the openess of everything so far. I hope he will do more to ensure health care for children soon. I think that would take a huge financial strain off people who have lost their jobs and are relying on expensive insurance and the COBRA coverage.
God Help us......You forgot, Pat Buchanan, Joe Scarborogh, and the Black guy that apears on Chris Matthews sometimes defending Bush at all cost (who is cross-eyed).
Working with the hand that he has been dealt, I think he is currently doing a good job.
Can we at least hold off the polls till he actually does something.
you Obama-bots that drink the Kool-aid do realize that these will go lower?
83–>68->63....you think he'll be over 50 by April at this rate?
Based upon the fact the has been in office for just a week and have not yet tangled with the tag team of Reid and Pelosi, has yet signed any bills, has not vetoed any bills. ... , has not been shot down by his own partys, a 63% approval rating is not that impressive! I will agree that he has done a few things well and few things poorly (the Mexico City Policy). The point is it is too early for polls. Some of you with poor debate/discussion skills will call me a hater but, disagreement is what makes us American! Besides, we elected a President, not dictator! I will not always agree with him, plain and simple! As a conservative, I did not always agree with GWB either!
Of course, there are those, for some reason want President Obama to do nothing but fail – Rush Limbaugh. How can you expect good to come to you, if you can't celebrate with those that are doing good? The first commandment is LOVE. If you can't love yourself you can't love anyone else. Those that want him to fail are really disappointed with themselves. I think you are doing an excellent job so far.
And the more the republicans fight him the higher his ratings will go.
Listen up – we're sick and tired of the republican nitwits in front of the TV cameras grandstanding and looking like fools.
They want Obama to fail and will do anything possible to make that happen.
Yo, Boehner and buddies! Are you paying attention? This is the guy you want to obstruct. The recovery plan a solid majority of the country wants is what you're trying to derail - with nothing offered in its place beyond TAX CUT TAX CUT TAX CUT - yeh, we've seen how well that worked over the last eight years.
Keep up the good work, Republicans, and you'll lose even more seats, even more power, in the next election cycle.
The idiot democrats in office will hurt him – the idiot republicans in office will try and destroy him.
Somebody please tell nancy Pelosi to stay off the news shows!
And Bohner aka Boehner is disgusting.
Those two should vanish from the airwaves.
@ Matt
Grow up !
THANK YOU – @ God Help Us...... AND THANK YOU MIchael G
Ventura Cal.....
I say no more !!
off to a great start?? he has not done a thing besides sign a piece of paper to close gitmo which i find disturbing. i hate to say it but i think this guy wrote too many checks that the american people dont want to pay. i would be surprised if any of his government programs go through without a huge tax increase. im hoping but very very hesitant to say this guy is going to be a great president. lets give him some time before we anoint him.
Hey I voted for him and I support him but I think these polls are just silly. in fact, the whole "first 100 days" business is silly too. We face problems that are a hell of a lot more complex than can be sorted out in a few months. Let's jump off the instant gratification train and try some patience and realism.
Lets hope he can get the republicans turned around to vote for the stimulas package. But we all know that they are going to be so darn stuborn and honary. What do they care they will have Sarah to vote for in 2012. Boy is that every a joke I dont think that are enough people left in the republican party to vote her in i know for sure the democrats wont vote for her. Then we will have to listen to the hate flow out of her mouth for a year while she is campaiging.
I don't understand the point of these polls? He hasn't really even done much of anything yet, or at least nothing that we didn't know he'd do before he was inaugurated? I think people are just nitpicking because they can, rather than be fair and give him a few weeks to get into the routine. I don't care what new job you have, you're entitled a few weeks to get used to it.
The 9% are simply part of that anti-democratic brainwashed by Rush Limbaugh and AnnCoulter supporters group that just don't get it. The same folks who thought Bush actually did a good job! They didn't get it then either.
@God Help us
Please add this to your list:
10. Rick
Yes! I approve.......1000%
Gobama!!
Enough polls! They're supremely annoying and unfair. The man has been in office for eight days. Give him a year and then ask what people think.
It's like you guys are taking these polls every minute of the day. Don't you ever get tired doing this? If you aren't, may be you should be doing it every time he uses the bathroom and ask people whether he zipped his pants well enough. Can you guys give this man a break. It's not even a week the man has been on the job and all of a sudden the press descended on him like a hawk. The Republicans on the other hand are stumbling blocks. Give the man a break for Christ's sake.
Doug:
Please come up with a new thought. The Obama-bot, kool-aide thing has been done to death! Maybe you could engage your other remaining brain cell and come up with some new material! We'd all appreciate it. Thanks.
i love the god help us comment, it says it all. president obama will go down in history as the greatest president ever. yes i said it. rush limbuagh is still the village idiot he always was saying he hopes obama fails. he does not like our politics i will chip in for a one way ticket to a country he likes.
did I hear right ? In his interview with the Al Arybya..President Obama said "expouse" twice, instead of espouse..otherwise he is very eloquent
It's convenient for the same people who call us unpatriotic for criticizing Bush's policies are now wishing our new elected President to fail. I call that right wing propaganda at it's best.
I'm not a bush hater, but I think he lack wisdom to hold the highest office. Yes, he did keep away futher attack on America, but at what cost? we don't bother counting Iraqi casualties for a reason.
Go ahead, blame Clinton for all the financial problem Bush didn't create. He had 8 years and a surplus budget when he started and look where we are now. Let Obama do his job and for all Obama haters, welcome to the other side, you have four years to complain, use it wisely.
we have a wonderful President.
Thus far after only a week and a half only Republicans have any problems with him which speaks volumes for his character. Perhaps they want more handouts and no bid contracts...
These polls are pointless. 1 week in and 2 polls already conducted. This one had a whopping 800 people questioned. Wow, now that's a majority of America there. Until they start doing polls with a much larger audience questioned, I won't believe he has that high of an approval rating. Technically, it should be based off the people who voted for him, so he'd be in the mid 50s at best. But since they like to poll Democrat's instead of Republican's, that's why you get these higher numbers. If you poll 400 Dems/400 Repubs, then it would be a bit more accurate.
But I keep forgetting, the MSM is always fair and balanced and would never dare sway to one side or another.
I guess the most important thing is not to torture terrorists.