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Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
49% - Presidential Approval
Updated: January 15, 2010
A year into his presidency, 49% of Americans approve of how Barack Obama is handling his job as president. More than four-in-ten (42%) disapprove of Obama's performance as president. The president's approval rating is little changed from a month ago (49% approved, 40% disapproved), but his approval rating is down 15 points from its post-inauguration high in February (64%). Disapproval has risen even more noticeably, up 25 points from 17% last February. Leading the downward trend, the president has lost support from political independents throughout his term, and for the first time significantly more independents now disapprove (49%) of Obama than approve (39%). "Strong" opposition to the president is also up. In April, strong approval outweighed strong disapproval by a 45%-to-18% margin, but now as many Americans strongly disapprove of Obama as strongly approve (30% each). Still, the president remains personally very popular. Broad majorities view him as a good communicator (83%), warm and friendly (77%), well organized (70%), and well informed (69%). Read more
