Obama's 'honeymoon' continues: 65 pct

[babylonsister]

Obama's 'honeymoon' continues: 65 pct
Posted May 29, 2009 8:35 AM
The Swamp

by Mark Silva


Four months in, President Barack Obama's public approval rating is holding fairly steady, at close to two-thirds. And he is faring better, at this stage, than all three of his immediate predecessors.

Only Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan enjoyed higher public approval ratings in the Gallup Poll during May of their first year in office, Gallup reports today: JFK had 77 percent approval at this stage, Ike 74 percent and Reagan 68 percent.

At 65 percent approval, on average during May, Obama stands even with Jimmy Carter at this stage of his presidency.

And Obama is more popular, at this stage of his presidency, than George W. Bush was - 55 percent in May of his first year - Bill Clinton, at 45 percent, or Bush senior, at 60 percent.

The implications, for the new president four months into office, are serious: The ability to advance an agenda knowing that he still has public support on his side.

This will likely play into everything from Senate confirmation of his first nominee to the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, to his push for health care reform this summer. He is likely to have an easier time with that nominee than with health care, but Congress will have a hard time bucking the agenda of a popular president.

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