Obama Approval Index Month-by-Month
Obama Full-Month Approval in August Falls to Lowest of His Presidency
Friday, September 02, 2011
When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
In August, the number who Strongly Approve of Obama’s job performance was at 21%. That’s down three points from 24% in July and the lowest level measured during Obama's entire presidency. The previous low was 23% reached in both April and June of this year.
Since July 2009, the number who Strongly Approved of the president’s performance has now ranged from a low of 21% to a high of 31%. By comparison, 43% Strongly Approved of Obama's performance in January 2009.
The number of voters who Strongly Disapprove of the president’s performance increased a point from July to 42% in August. The number of voters who Strongly Disapproved has ranged from 37% to 44% since July 2009.
The full-month Presidential Approval Index rating for August is down four points from July to -21. That’s by far Obama's lowest full-month approval index rating since taking office in January 2009. Prior to this survey, Obama’s lowest level of approval was -17, reached three times since January 2009. With a few exceptions, the president’s approval index rating has stayed between -14 and -17 since the beginning of 2010.
The full-month numbers for August show Strong Approval from 43% of Democrats, while 73% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among voters not affiliated with either party, 14% Strongly Approve and 42% Strongly Disapprove of Obama's job performance.
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The president’s total job approval dipped two points in August to 44%, also the lowest level of approval to date. The last time half (50%) of voters approved of Obama’s performance was in July 2009. For 2011, prior to this survey, the president’s total job approval on a full-month basis has remained in the narrow range of 46% to 49%. Throughout 2010, Obama’s full month approval ratings ranged from 45% to 47%.
Fifty-five percent (55%) disapproved of the president’s performance in August, the highest level measured yet. That finding has ranged from 49% to 54% since July 2009.
The economy remains the top issue on the minds of voters, while perceptions of the president’s handling of the issue has fallen to a new low.
Most voters continue to blame the struggling economy on the recession that began during the Bush administration, but the number who trusts their own economic judgment more than Obama’s is at a new high.
Voters continue to have mixed views on the president’s leadership style.
Obama earns his lowest level of support yet against a generic Republican in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup for the week ending Sunday, August 28. For the first time this year, Texas Governor Rick Perry leads the president in a national Election 2012 survey. Other Republican candidates trail the president by single digits.
More: rasmussenreports.com |
