Gallup: Obama favorability jumps to 3-year high

President Obama's favorability has jumped to a three-year high in the week following his reelection, with 58 percent of Americans now saying they have a positive opinion of the president.

The number represents a three-point improvement for the president since a similar survey conducted by Gallup in the days immediately preceding last week's presidential election. And it is Obama's highest mark since July 2009, when two-thirds of respondents said they had a favorable opinion of the president. 

Obama's all-time high point was a 78 percent favorability rating shortly after his inauguration in January 2009.

Interestingly, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has also earned a bump in popularity since Election Day. The former Massachusetts governor saw his favorability cross the 50 percent threshold — up from 46 percent before Election Day. That means Romney has actually gained more in his favorability ratings than the president, despite criticism from many in the Republican Party following his loss.

"Americans view both 2012 presidential candidates more positively now that the campaign is over, as Obama turns his attention to governing for the next four years and Romney to a future role outside of presidential politics," Gallup's Jeffrey M. Jones said in a statement.

Romney's bump mirrors that of Sen. John McCain in 2008. The Arizona Republican saw his favorability jump to 64 percent from 60 percent after being defeated in President Obama's first national campaign.

Both the Democratic and Republican parties also saw improvement since the bitter days before the election. Democrats posted a 6-point improvement following their victories on Election Day, improving from 45 to 51 percent. Republicans, meanwhile, gained a point, moving from 42 to 43 percent.

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