THE HILL: President Obama’s job approval has steadily edged up in recent months and now significantly outpaces that of Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush — the two most recent incumbents to be denied a second term — although the president remains below the crucial 50 percent threshold.
The president averaged a 46.8 percent approval rating in Gallup’s tracking poll over the 14th quarter of his presidency — the third straight quarter that the president’s approval numbers have increased, and his highest in a year.
“The recent and continuing improvement in his approval rating, though, is a positive sign for his reelection prospects, but it remains below the 50 percent level that virtually assures a president of a second term in office,” said Gallup’s Jeffrey M. Jones in a release. “Obama appears in much better shape now than the two recently elected presidents who were denied a second term — Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush — both of whom averaged below 40 percent approval their 14th quarters in office.”… (more)
