CNN Poll: Obama transition draws approval of 4 in 5 Americans

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

....Eighty-two percent of those questioned in a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday morning approve of the way the Obama is handling his presidential transition. That's up 3 points from when we asked this question at the beginning of December. Fifteen percent of those surveyed disapprove of the way Obama's handling his transition, down 3 points from our last poll.

The 82 percent approval is higher than then President-elect George W. Bush 8 years ago, who had a 65 percent transition approval rating, and Bill Clinton, at 67 percent in 1992.

"Barack Obama is having a better honeymoon with the American public than any incoming president in the past three decades. He's putting up better numbers, usually by double digits, than Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, or either George Bush on every item traditionally measured in transition polls," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

The poll also suggests that the public approves of the President-elect's cabinet nominees, with 56 percent of those questioned saying Obama's appointments have been outstanding or above average, with 32 percent feeling the picks have been average, and 11 percent saying Obama's choices have been below average or poor....

A third say that their impression of Obama has gotten better since the election, with only 8 percent saying their opinion has gotten worse.

Presidents usually start to lose support once they assume office and start making the tough decisions. But with eight in ten currently approving of Obama, he can give away 20 or 30 points, estimates Holland, and still have a majority of the country on his side.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/24/cnn-pol...

[Ian David]

1. 4 out of 5.... that's like most. n/t

[DerekJ]

2. More like "Almost All" .. n/t

[yodoobo]

3. wow. Even the pubs approve.

How often is it that we get 80% of the country to agree on anything?

[TheWraith]

14. The last time that many people agreed was after 9/11.

Appropriate I suppose, since the Bush years have been a catastrophe of epic proportions.

[Fearless]

25. Now maybe we can affect that level of change but in the other direction.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Keeping Gates has won over a lot of McCain voters. Well done!

[Zynx]

8. It will make Obama's move to get us out of Iraq more credible.

[grantcart]

9. also in reshaping the Defense Budget

I hope he eliminates the expensive boondoggle waste

[Captain Hilts]

11. That's absolutely correct. I wish more folks understood that. nt

[TheWraith]

13. And speedier as well, I think.

Easier to get things done if the new SecDef doesn't need long confirmation hearings, or to figure out where the pens are kept.

[Odin2005]

5. Of those 20% that don't approve I'll bet...

half are right-wing nuts and half are Naderite nuts.

[ZombieHorde]

6. and the third half does not understand fractions.

[Posteritatis]

17. A fourth half do, but are *really* emphatic! (nt)

[acmavm]

7. They're the ones who see Sarah Palin as the 'hope' of their party. NT

[Posteritatis]

16. I dunno, a big chunk of them are probably here these days too (nt)

[Kahuna]

21. I believe the hardcore nader nuts are down to about 1/4 of a percent..

[Phred42]

10. the 20% Club will always be anti-American

[quidam56]

12. Change is coming in Appalachia from the bottom up !

They can say Bush protected us from another terrorist attack yet Bush himself has been a Toxic Terrorist all over America. Appalachia can't stand anymore of THE COAL INDUSTRIES prosperity. http://www.wisecountyissues.com Hannity's America sure ain't My America !!!

[TheWraith]

15. Kicked and recommended. Good news is always welcome! nt

[Vinca]

18. It's a shame CNN goes on to report "all the constituents"

unhappy with Obama. They make it sound so damn dire you wonder if the job ought to be offered to Grandpa and Mooseburger instead.

[Turbineguy]

19. And the others

are still busy approving Bush.

[defendandprotect]

20. Looks like a CNN "honeymoon" for Obama ....

I just went by CNN -- I, of course, don't watch it -- but I did notice they were

running a poll:-- Who was "naughtiest" politician this year?

The lineup seemed to be...

Blago

Spitzer

Edwards

That's CNN for you --

But I guess for some it beats gambling, tattoos, wrestling, and torture programs


???

[Number23]

22. Thanks, Mom! Goooo America!!

[earth mom]

23. I don't believe any of these polls. nt

[Pastiche423]

26. Neither do I

[cali]

28. of course not.

they don't reflect what you want them to reflect.

[Tarheel_Dem]

24. A big k&r.....nt

[tom_paine]

27. Thre is no question the "alternate hypothesis" to all the post-election Obama angst

since his appointments, Warren, etc. (of which I have been a part of the angst, though I refuse to condemn him or otherwise go off the deep end before he has even taken office)

is that he is a brilliant FDR/Lincoln-type political strategist who is that rarest of rare brids, especially these days in the USA...a person who truly wants to mend and heal, and knows very well the tough course he has to take and is thinking better and further down the road than any of us on DU.

Now, that is by far the most optimistic interpretation, but watching the results, even early indication make this a more likely scenario than it ever has been since the Bushies killed JFK, RFK, and MLK. Apologies to the LGBTs on DU. I am NOT dismissing your feelings of betrayal, just stating certain possible strategio-political facts.

Plus, if this most optimistic scenario IS true, Obama seems like he betrayed you today, but it will result in a brighter future for all LGBTs down the line.

That's IF the most optimistic interpretation is true, and that is not certain. But I am coming to see that it may be more possible than I thought since the heady rush following victory not two months ago...