Obama’s Approval Rating Climbs Again

President Barack Obama received some good news for his 55th birthday. Obama’s approval rating has risen, yet again, to just under 55 percent.

According to a CNN/ORC poll conducted from July 29 through 31 (during the Democratic National Convention), Obama’s current approval rating is 54 percent. His disapproval rating is 45 percent.

Obama’s approval rating now sits at its highest point since his second-term inauguration in January 2013. The president’s approval dropped in the previous week to 50 percent following the Republican National Convention, but has regained that ground (and then some), propelled primarily by Americans under 45 years old.

According to Gallup, which tracks Obama’s approval rating daily, the president saw a 54 percent peak for July 28 and 29, and had dipped to 51 percent by August 1.

According to The Hill, Obama’s second-term approval rating mirrors that of Ronald Reagan in 1988, and is on par with Bill Clinton’s approval (57 percent) in 2000.

Obama’s high approval ratings also raises the question of its effect on the election and how it may help (or hurt) Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

94 percent of those who approve of President Obama said they also support Hillary Clinton. Furthermore, 85 percent of those who disapprove of Obama support Republican nominee Donald Trump.

64 percent of those surveyed believed that a Clinton presidency would be a continuation of Obama’s policies, while only 33 percent believed Clinton would have different policies.

According to the CNN/ORC poll, 54 of Americans believe things in the country are “going badly”, a sentiment which may play into Trump’s message to “Make American Great Again”. In fact, 86 percent of Trump supports believe “things are going badly” in this country. However, of those unhappy with the way things are going, only 38 percent are “very enthusiastic” about voting for president in November. 

Sources: CNN, Gallup, The Hill / Photo Credit: Barack Obama / Instagram