Silke Jasso
President Obama will leave office holding the fourth highest approval rating since Franklin D. Roosevelt. His final approval rating, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll, shows that 60 percent of respondents approved of him, while only 38 percent disapprove.
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Final approval ratings for presidents from FDR to Obamahttps://t.co/gQrkGZA2gS pic.twitter.com/gB1M38SBTg
— Post Polls (@PostPolls) January 18, 2017
His approval ratings have risen steadily over the past 18 months. In mid-2015, his ratings were underwater, with only 45 percent approving of his job performance, and 50 percent disapproving of it.
RELATED: President Obama’s soaring approval numbers spell bad news for Republicans
Obama's job approval over his entire presidency https://t.co/gQrkGZA2gS pic.twitter.com/cryR8qwvrw
— Post Polls (@PostPolls) January 18, 2017
The rise in his approval rating has persisted in spite of certain negative feelings that are prevalent throughout the country, including a pessimistic view of the nation’s direction. It has also persisted in light of a contentious election, where President-elect Donald Trump campaigned and won while railing against Obama’s policies.
His handling of the economy received a 61 percent approval rating, while 53 percent approve of how he has handled the threat of terrorism, and 52 percent approve of his handling of health care.
Not surprisingly, his approval ratings were extremely partisan. Republicans had a negative view that continued throughout his presidency, and Democrats had a mostly positive view. Independents are responsible for his increased approval ratings over the past year. In early 2016, only 44 percent of Independents approved of his performance, but by Jan. 2017 that number had jumped to 60 percent.
Historically, President Obama leaves office with a much higher approval rating than the 50 percent average for presidents since FDR. His approval rating will also be nearly double that of his predecessor, George W. Bush, who left office with an approval rating of 33 percent.
