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President Obama’s approval rating goes positive
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02/09/12 05:04 PM ET
President Obama’s approval rating went positive on Thursday for the first time since Dec. 23, according to the latest Gallup daily tracking poll.
The president’s approval rating has been inching up since bottoming out at 39 percent in early October.
Last week’s jobs report showed that unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since Obama took office in January of 2009 — if the economy is indeed on the mend, that could be a big boost to the president’s reelection hopes.
Sixty-two percent said the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with the next closest issue being dissatisfaction with government and politicians at 16 percent.
The president’s economic approval rating is also trending upward, although it remains firmly negative.
Thirty-eight percent said they approve of the president’s handling of the economy, versus 59 percent who disapprove.
Still, this is up from 26 percent who said they approved of the president’s handing of the economy midway through 2011.
After last week’s jobs report, Republicans, including the GOP presidential candidates, pivoted to attacking the president on social issues.
Many on the right are furious with the administration’s policy that would require employer healthcare plans to cover birth control, even if the organization opposes contraception on religious grounds.
GOP front-runner Mitt Romney called it an attack on “religious liberty.”
Still, if he can get the economy humming, voters might dismiss the attacks on his record when it comes to social issues.
Another Gallup poll released on Thursday showed that a growing number of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country. While a strong majority remains dissatisfied, those who approve are up to 22 percent, doubling-up the 11 percent low from early spring.
When Obama took office in January of 2009, only 13 percent were satisfied with the direction of the country.
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