In First 100 Days, Obama Meets or Exceeds Expectations
Praise for Obama on the economy, foreign policy; criticism on budgetary matters
by Lydia Saad
PRINCETON, NJ -- President Obama begins the second 100 days of his presidency with 56% of Americans believing he has done an excellent or good job thus far, and only 20% saying he has done a poor or terrible job. According to the new USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted April 20-21, about a quarter of Americans are on the fence, saying his performance has been "just okay."
Those who rate Obama positively have slightly tempered views of him, with more saying his performance has been "good" rather than "excellent," 33% vs. 23%, respectively. However, those who are critical of Obama are as likely to use the harshest term -- "terrible" -- as they are to say his performance has been merely "poor," 11% vs. 9%.
Democrats are highly laudatory of Obama, with 88% rating him excellent or good. Republicans offer more measured criticism -- only 40% say he has done a poor or terrible job, while 35% say he has done "just okay."
These summary evaluations of Obama's presidency provide a more detailed picture of public reaction to the new president than Gallup's standard job approval rating. Gallup Poll Daily tracking from April 20-22 finds 65% of Americans saying they "approve" of the job Obama is doing as president; 29% disapprove. Thus, on both measures, Americans' general assessment is quite positive, by a better than 2-to-1 margin.
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http://www.gallup.com/poll/117853/First-100-Days-Obama-Meets-Exceeds-Expectations.aspx