# Obama's Gallup approval up to over 51%. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 4, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952 "2016-03-04T19:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/81 "2016-04-04T09:02:06Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > He is on is way out, and the majority of those polled approve of that. That’s not actually how it works. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/82 "2016-04-04T11:54:26Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s up to 53%. 48.7% is the average, actually: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president\_obama\_job\_approval-1044.html](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html) As for what’s causing it, improving economy, no recent failures, Republicans looking just awful and Democrats not looking much better. As with any Obama bump in approval, an administration screwup that he says he knew nothing about and isn’t responsible for will send his approval back into the low 40s. That’s been the pattern throughout his second term. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/83 "2016-04-04T12:22:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > 48.7% is the average, actually: > > [RealClearPolitics - President Obama Job Approval](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html) That’s the average of several polls for a given period, which is fine, but this thread is about Gallup approval. Obama’s Gallup approval is up to 53%. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/84 "2016-04-04T14:57:18Z")
Either way, the same trend lines. On January 1, RCP’s average was 43.6 approve, 52.0 disapprove. Now, it’s 48.7 approve, 46.5 disapprove. So per RCP, Obama’s approval has gone up 5.1, and his disapproval has gone down 5.5. He’s gone from 8.4 points underwater to 2.1 positive. For Gallup alone, Obama’s gone from 45% approval, 51% disapproval to 52% approval, 45% disapproval. Approval is +7, disapproval -6, and he’s gone from 6 points underwater to 7 points positive. One can argue that maybe Gallup’s a bit more positive than they should be, relative to other surveys, and maybe that’s true. (They’re not an outlier, though: Pew’s also got Obama at +7 in their most recent survey in the RCP average.) But regardless of who you look at, Obama’s approval is going up by similar amounts. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/85 "2016-04-04T15:41:20Z")
Even George W. Bush got a 10 point bump up over his last 6 months in office. I think there’s a kind of nostalgia that sets in with some. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/86 "2016-04-04T15:48:09Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Even George W. Bush got a 10 point bump up over his last 6 months in office. I think there’s a kind of nostalgia that sets in with some. Well, there is that, but I also think that Obama is being compared now with the current Republican choices, a choice between Tamerlane and Attila the Hun. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/87 "2016-04-04T19:20:26Z")
And let’s not forget the most unpopular Democratic nominee since Truman was trying to get reelected. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/88 "2016-04-05T00:45:50Z")
And, good Lord, what does that say about the GOP? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/89 "2016-04-05T01:10:31Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Even George W. Bush got a 10 point bump up over his last 6 months in office. I think there’s a kind of nostalgia that sets in with some. No, [he did not](http://www.gallup.com/poll/116500/presidential-approval-ratings-george-bush.aspx). He started out 2008 running an approval of 32 to 34, by this week of 2008 he had dropped to 28 and further dropped hitting 25 three times in October '08 with disapprove hitting 71. He went back up from that modestly and on his way out the door in January got one bounce back to 34. There was no bounce during his last 6 months in office. That is a factually incorrect statement. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/90 "2016-04-05T05:24:10Z")
> [@Pashnish\_Ewing](#): > > And, good Lord, what does that say about the GOP? It says that whatever it takes, don’t let Trump or Cruz be the nominee, and the 2016 election is a gimme. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/91 "2016-04-05T05:24:30Z")
> [@Pashnish\_Ewing](#): > > And, good Lord, what does that say about the GOP? [QUOTE=Dennis Hopper] [Bad things.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HU8gvF6WCIk) [/QUOTE] … ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/92 "2016-04-05T21:33:18Z")
Obama’s bump is entirely because of my uncle Francis. He’s always self-described as being born a Republican. At a recent family event, I quote him, “Fuck 'em all, if Obama was running for a third term, I’d vote for him.” There you have it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/93 "2016-08-04T12:43:29Z")
Bumping this thread – his Gallup approval is at [52%](http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx), his CNN approval is all the way up to [54%](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/04/politics/presidential-polls-obama-hillary-clinton-election-2016/index.html), and his RCP approval average is at about [51%](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html). He’s been consistently above water for months now. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/94 "2016-08-04T13:21:54Z")
Obama’s popularity helps explain why a six month old event (paying back $400 mil owed to Iran back in January) is suddenly a “big deal” again. GOP is going to have a hard time making “But she’d be Obama’s third term!” stick if people, you know, would want an Obama third term. Time to start recycling ‘scandals’. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/95 "2016-08-04T14:19:42Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Bumping this thread – his Gallup approval is at [52%](http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx), his CNN approval is all the way up to [54%](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/04/politics/presidential-polls-obama-hillary-clinton-election-2016/index.html), and his RCP approval average is at about [51%](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html). He’s been consistently above water for months now. Yeah, [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/04/politics/presidential-polls-obama-hillary-clinton-election-2016/index.html) has him at a 4 year high. I think people are starting to realize how good we had it under Obama and how we’ve collectively jumped the shark with Trump as a major party candidate. > [@](#): > > Washington (CNN)President Barack Obama’s approval rating got its own convention bump, and now stands at its highest level since just before his second inauguration in 2013. > > Obama’s approval rating dipped to 50% after the Republican convention, but has risen to 54% in the wake of his party’s convention, with 45% disapproval, according to a new CNN/ORC Poll. That’s the most positive approval rating of his second term. > > The increase in Obama’s approval rating comes mostly among younger Americans – he’s up 9 points among those under age 45 while losing a point among those age 45 or older – and political independents and moderates – up 9 points among each group. > > Compared with other recent two-term presidents, Obama’s approval rating at this stage of his presidency ranks on par with Ronald Reagan’s ratings in 1988, and are approaching Bill Clinton’s 57% at this point in 2000. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/96 "2016-08-04T14:46:25Z")
**XT** , your link was in my post that you quoted! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/97 "2016-08-04T15:09:44Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > **XT** , your link was in my post that you quoted! 🙂 :smack: Sorry, I didn’t click the link but I had been reading the CNN article when I saw your post so thought I’d toss it in. :smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/98 "2016-08-04T19:16:08Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Obama’s popularity helps explain why a six month old event (paying back $400 mil owed to Iran back in January) is suddenly a “big deal” again. GOP is going to have a hard time making “But she’d be Obama’s third term!” stick if people, you know, would want an Obama third term. Time to start recycling ‘scandals’. They are trying to bait him into saying he knew nothing about it. That always drops him about 8 points. He didn’t take the bait this time. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/99 "2016-08-04T19:24:59Z")
b/c Obama looks a lot better next to Thrump or Hillary ! If we had better candidates running I don’t think Obama would look so good now . ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952/100 "2016-08-04T20:03:40Z")
For what it’s worth I think Clinton IS better, but she’ll never LOOK better than Obama. Obama just has no much more dignity and can at least look like he’s talking straight even when he’s furiously spinning. Hillary doesn’t have that talent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-gallup-approval-up-to-over-51-why/747952.md?page=6)