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Study: Obama's Ratings 'Average'
By MICHAEL P. TREMOGLIE, The Bulletin
A study released by the Gallup organization last month said President Barack Obama’s approval ratings are only about average for presidents at this term in office. Despite the media pronouncements of Mr. Obama’s historic presidency, the American people do not think much more of him than past presidents.
According to Gallup, Mr. Obama averaged an approval rating of 63 percent for his first quarter in office. His ratings have been as high as 69 percent and dipped as low as 59 percent.
But Mr. Obama’s 63 percent first-quarter average matches the historical average of 63 percent for elected presidents’ first quarters since 1953. It is only the fourth highest for a newly elected president since that time (it is just ahead of President Richard Nixon’s).
During that period, Mr. Obama’s approval ratings have been the highest since President Jimmy Carter’s 69 percent in 1977. Since the post-Watergate era, President Carter’s first quarter ratings were the highest, followed by Mr. Obama at 63 percent and Ronald Reagan at 60 percent.
Even President George W. Bush’s ratings that followed the controversial 2000 election, were at 58 percent. The historical first-quarter average includes two presidents whose scores exceeded 70 percent (Kennedy’s 74 percent and Dwight Eisenhower’s 71 percent.
But, Gallup said, the average for all presidents’ first quarters since World War II — both presidents who were elected and those who took office after the death or resignation of their predecessors — is slightly higher, at 66 percent. Harry Truman’s ratings were 87 percent.
According to the pollsters, six of the last 11 presidents saw essentially no change in their approval ratings from the first to the second quarter in office. The ones who did see significant movement tended to start out with ratings that were higher (Truman and Carter) or lower (George H.W. Bush) than the norm.
Gerald Ford and Mr. Clinton both saw rather abrupt ends to their honeymoons. Ford’s controversial pardon of Nixon sent his approval ratings plummeting. An early September 1974 poll (conducted mostly before Ford pardoned Nixon on Sept. 8) measured a 66 percent approval rating for Ford. By the next poll, Ford’s approval rating was down to 50 percent, and continued declining thereafter.
Mr. Clinton’s 55 percent first-quarter average is the lowest for a recent president. And after a number of controversial actions, his approval rating sank to 44 percent in his second quarter in office.
Michael P. Tremoglie can be reached at mtremoglie@thebulletin.us
According to Gallup, Mr. Obama averaged an approval rating of 63 percent for his first quarter in office. His ratings have been as high as 69 percent and dipped as low as 59 percent.
But Mr. Obama’s 63 percent first-quarter average matches the historical average of 63 percent for elected presidents’ first quarters since 1953. It is only the fourth highest for a newly elected president since that time (it is just ahead of President Richard Nixon’s).
During that period, Mr. Obama’s approval ratings have been the highest since President Jimmy Carter’s 69 percent in 1977. Since the post-Watergate era, President Carter’s first quarter ratings were the highest, followed by Mr. Obama at 63 percent and Ronald Reagan at 60 percent.
Even President George W. Bush’s ratings that followed the controversial 2000 election, were at 58 percent. The historical first-quarter average includes two presidents whose scores exceeded 70 percent (Kennedy’s 74 percent and Dwight Eisenhower’s 71 percent.
But, Gallup said, the average for all presidents’ first quarters since World War II — both presidents who were elected and those who took office after the death or resignation of their predecessors — is slightly higher, at 66 percent. Harry Truman’s ratings were 87 percent.
According to the pollsters, six of the last 11 presidents saw essentially no change in their approval ratings from the first to the second quarter in office. The ones who did see significant movement tended to start out with ratings that were higher (Truman and Carter) or lower (George H.W. Bush) than the norm.
Gerald Ford and Mr. Clinton both saw rather abrupt ends to their honeymoons. Ford’s controversial pardon of Nixon sent his approval ratings plummeting. An early September 1974 poll (conducted mostly before Ford pardoned Nixon on Sept. 8) measured a 66 percent approval rating for Ford. By the next poll, Ford’s approval rating was down to 50 percent, and continued declining thereafter.
Mr. Clinton’s 55 percent first-quarter average is the lowest for a recent president. And after a number of controversial actions, his approval rating sank to 44 percent in his second quarter in office.
Michael P. Tremoglie can be reached at mtremoglie@thebulletin.us
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