How Obama's poll numbers compare to past presidents

CBS/AP

President Barack Obama's overall job approval rating was down to just 43 percent in the latest CBS News/New York Times Poll, his lowest rating so far. Even more, 50 percent disapprove.

And while he retains the support of most Democrats, he has lost the support of independents, 54 percent of whom disapprove of the job he is doing. No doubt the poor economy - 86 percent say it is in bad shape -- has kept Mr. Obama's job approval ratings low.

Obama's approval rating drops to all-time low; Public split on jobs plan

Previous modern presidents who have been re-elected to second terms have also held office during bad economies. President Ronald Reagan faced an unemployment rate of over 9 percent in 1983 - similar to the current jobless rate - and his 46 percent job approval rating at this point in his presidency was similar to that of President Obama now. In 1995, President Bill Clinton's approval rating was 43 percent.

Others have lost their bids for re-election. In September 1991, President George H. W. Bush received a very high 70 percent approval rating, but that was a reflection of the public's approval of the successful Persian Gulf War earlier in the year. Throughout 1992, his approval ratings fell precipitously, to just 31 percent in July. And Jimmy Carter, another president who faced tough economic conditions, received an approval rating in the fall 1979 of just 31 percent.

More specifically, Mr. Obama's approval rating on handling the economy - which the public has long named the top problem facing the country - is particularly low, at just 34 percent. And although 38 percent of Americans are very concerned they or someone else in their household may lose a job in the next year (up seven points in the last few months), only 40 percent approve of how he is handling job creation.

Other presidents have received worse evaluations on their handling of the economy. President George H.W. Bush received a 14 percent approval rating on the economy in August 1992, and President George W. Bush received just 16 percent approval in late 2008. But assessments of President Obama on this measure are lower than they were for Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan at this point in their respective presidencies.

One of the challenges facing President Obama is the public's perception that economic conditions are not improving. Forty-three percent think the economy is getting worse, and just 12 percent think it is getting better. More than half the public thinks the country is heading toward or already in another recession.

Both Bill Clinton's and Ronald Reagan's approval ratings on handling the economy improved during the year before their re-election. Bill Clinton's approval rating on the economy rose to 55 percent just before his re-election, and between September 1983 and January 1984 Ronald Reagan's approval rating on the economy rose from 44 percent to 55 percent, and remained in the mid-50s throughout 1984.

But that was not the case for two presidents who were not successful in their re-election bids, Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush. Both of those one term presidents had sustained low approval ratings on handling the economy before losing re-election.

Mr. Obama's approval rating on the economy has dropped in the past year, from 41 percent in January 2010. His re-election prospects may be affected by where that rating - and the public's perceptions of the economy - go from here over the next year.

[Kenny777_y]

what do people expect him to do pull a rabbit out o hat? 100% of economist say that it takes at east 5 years to pull out of any recession, even former presidents say the same thing. we would not be in this mess at all if,,,,, well lets not go there.

[GoGoUsa]

I'll tell what is weird, all the media is about how bad things are, yet in my city things are going gang busters. I am working harder then I have in three years. Traffic has doubled on the morning commute, real estate is going up and up, and by every measure things are great. I don't want to reveal where I live, the crazies are to crazy to provide any personal details but I'll give you a hint; It ain't Texas. The media is playing us for fools. Fear sells. Republicans make great news because the scare the hell out of people. Bad news makes money, anything is a waste of bandwidth.

[askagain]

Obama won't be the first president to disappoint the American people. Remember, Americans have only themselves to blame for the presidents they elect. In this case, we chose glitz over substance. We chose inexperience over experience. But we get another chance a year from now.

[bcargile]

You want show what I post CBS because it's bad news about Obama!

[Excalibrationist]

by verypublishedwriter September 20, 2011 11:31 AM EDT
I fully agree. I find Prez Obama's performance masterful. The man has remarkable overview and is extraordinarily level and flexible.

I hope that indeed we do vote. I invariably find it disappointing that Republikkklans dominate off-year elections. We need to change this in 2014.

Vote President Obama, 2012!!!!!!!!

Vote U.S. Senate Democrats, 2012!!!!!!

Vote U.S. House of Representatives Democrats, 2012!!!!
===================================================================
Steve Chapman of The Chicago Tribune (Obama's hometown newspaper), calls your kind, "disillusioned"!
...and I wholeheartedly agree:

"Why Obama should withdraw"
September 18, 2011|By Steve Chapman | Tribune columnist

When Ronald Reagan ran for re-election in 1984, his slogan was "Morning in America." For Barack Obama, it's more like midnight in a coal mine.

The sputtering economy is about to stall out, unemployment is high, his jobs program may not pass, foreclosures are rampant and the poor guy can't even sneak a cigarette.

His approval rating is at its lowest level ever. His party just lost two House elections — one in a district it had held for 88 consecutive years. He's staked his future on the jobs bill, which most Americans don't think would work.

The vultures are starting to circle. Former White House spokesman Bill Burton said that unless Obama can rally the Democratic base, which is disillusioned with him, "it's going to be impossible for the president to win." Democratic consultant James Carville had one word of advice for Obama: "Panic."

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-09-18/news/ct-oped-0918-chapman-20110918_1_obama-iran-contra-scandal-house-spokesman-bill-burton

I just love the last paragraph!
: )

[Excalibrationist]

btw, what is THIS about??
"....We need to change this in 2014."

[myopinionpal]

As an independent voter I don't look at polls when I cast my vote for anyone thats running for re-election for president. what I do look at is a hostile republican congress that has been against everything the president has tried to do. And now the GOP with 14 months until the election has got the economy right where they want it to insure a republican victory.So in other words I know which party is truly the ones at fault and I will cast my vote accordingly and it won't be for the party of NO!!!!

[realtimecoffee]

Congratulations

[Excalibrationist]

You may want to take another look, myo-nonsense:

" A quick comparison of the Republican-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/09/08/a-quick-comparison-of-the-house-and-senate-on-jobs/ on jobs":

1) Since January this year, the house has passed 12 bills to enhance the US economy with jobs. All but one of these bills remain "STUCK IN THE SENATE".
2) The House has also passed 6 Domestic Energy production bills to enhance, again, the jobs picture while trying to reduce foreign oil dependence, WHILE THE SENATE BLOCKS AND PASSES NOTHING.
3) The House has passed a federal budget, WHILE THE SENATE BLOCKS AND PASSES NOTHING!

[LtSmily]

Genuinely ridiculous comments. Many paid Republikkklan operatives frequent these news sites. They're typically not difficult to spot. Either you're one of these, or clinically delusional.

Holy Crap, I can get paid to speak truth to the insane policies this Administration is pushing onto the American people? Where do I sign up?

[luadda22]

LtSmily & verypublishedwriter? Is this Skyk posting as different people (Republikkklan). Looks like one of his racist rants without capitalizing every other word.

[askagain]

That is crazy. You must believe that anyone who supports the Republicans are paid operatives. Is your brain so small you can't conceive of people believing in the Republican philosophy. Are you arrogant enough to believe that eveyone thinks as you do?

[realtimecoffee]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama makes it sound as if there are millionaires all over America paying taxes at lower rates than their secretaries.

"Middle-class families shouldn't pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires," Obama said Monday. "That's pretty straightforward. It's hard to argue against that."

The data tell a different story. On average, the wealthiest people in America pay a lot more taxes than the middle class or the poor, according to private and government data. They pay at a higher rate, and as a group, they contribute a much larger share of the overall taxes collected by the federal government

[verypublishedwriter]

Sheesh. A posting by (yet) another paid Republikkklan operative. How shocking.

[realtimecoffee]

LOL that is just stupid my friend. Who would pay anyone to post on this site? What are there, maybe 20 people following these threads. If you can't bear to think there are people who just simply disagree with you then your problems are in the mirror.

[southpaw99]

I think President Obama has been doing a great job considering the republican idiots in congress.
Most educated people are very aware of this and we VOTE!

[verypublishedwriter]

I fully agree. I find Prez Obama's performance masterful. The man has remarkable overview and is extraordinarily level and flexible.

I hope that indeed we do vote. I invariably find it disappointing that Republikkklans dominate off-year elections. We need to change this in 2014.

Vote President Obama, 2012!!!!!!!!

Vote U.S. Senate Democrats, 2012!!!!!!

Vote U.S. House of Representatives Democrats, 2012!!!!

[LtSmily]

Great Job... Consistently spends more borrowed money than any other President. Consistently retains sky high unemployment with bad policy decisions. Consistently alienates friends and enemies alike. Consistently dodges the hard decisions just as he consistently voted "present" while in the Senate. Consistently gives terrible speeches that divide the American people (but that may not be all his fault, he definitely needs new speech writers). Consistently displays complete disregard for the Rule of Law (so have other Presidents though, to be fair). Consistently shows that he fails to grasp the concept of leadership. The President is supposed to unite Americans, regardless of what Congress does. He takes the blame as well as the glory for good or ill. From a historical perspective, the 100 year old liberal policies he is doggedly pursuing were a failure throughout the 20th century, and they will fail again in the present. That is unfortunate for him and for America.

[verypublishedwriter]

Watching President Clinton this morning as he was speaking about a child anti-obesity campaign, I couldn't help but notice that, after leaving office, presidents who are Democrats take on helpful and interesting initiatives; they work to improve the world in which we live. Republikkklan presidents disappear and in some cases try to avoid being arrested.

Vote President Obama, 2012!!!!!!!!