AP Poll: Obama's Job Approval Rises Amid Concerns

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News/AP

President Barack Obama's approval ratings are starting to rise after declining ever since his inauguration, new poll figures show as the country's mood begins to brighten. But concerns about the economy, health care and war persist, and support for the war in Afghanistan is falling.

An Associated Press-GfK poll says 56 percent of those surveyed in the past week approve of Obama's job performance, up from 50 percent in September. It's the first time since he took office in January that his rating has gone up.

People also feel better about his handling of the economy and his proposed health care overhaul.

But not about the war.

Support for the war in Afghanistan has declined, the poll said Tuesday. And approval of Obama's handling of it is holding steady — in contrast to his gains in other areas — as he considers a big troop increase there. Poll respondents narrowly oppose the increase.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=8767097

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[Mari333]

1. WILL he listen to the people or the whoring advisors?

I dont expect much at this point.

[TheWatcher]

8. It has been made QUITE clear that We The People no longer matter.

The real question is.....

::Channels Sean Connery From The Untouchables::

What Are We Prepared to Do?

[harry_pothead]

2. Our President has always bounced back

In mid September 2008, we were panicking over Palin as the GOP overtook Obama in the polls for a time.

In November, this:

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Love that pic. A blast from the past.

[DeltaLitProf]

4. If only THAT guy was president right now . . .

. . . instead of the 16-bit version we now have.

[tblue]

6. I miss him, too.

Not that I'm not well aware of the sh*tstorm he inherited and is trying to manage. But I sure would like to see him fight for healthcare as hard as he fought for the presidency. He could do it. It's in him, if he has the will and he's not afraid.

[impik]

9. You don't think he's fighting hard enough?

He put his entire presidency on this. Lost tons of political capital. People called him everything from Nazi to grandma killer. Members of his own party are in the beg of the insurance companies. There's a reason why no one was able to get health care reform in 100 years. It's the most difficult domestic legislation. To say that he's not fighting hard enough, is ridiculous.

Governing is not campaigning. Being a candidate is easy. Being the president of the USA is the most difficult job in the world, and this is the most hard working, well intended and smart president i've seen in my lifetime. I'm very happy about this poll. It means that there are more smart people out there than i thought before.

[Itchinjim]

11. Well said.

And welcome to DU.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. +100 n/t

[MoJoWorkin]

14. Thank you! Welcome to DU !

Many of us who have been around here for a long while are getting weary of the constant bashing of Obama here on "Democratic Underground"---whatever DU means now. It seems that DU has been all but taken over by the haters, hand wringers, naysayers, etc.

In my 64 years, since I was a teenager, I have watched our various Presidents closely. I must say, Obama is having to tackle more messes and doing it better than just about any of the others.

He is doing it DESPITE a constant harping of the 24 hour media(who are trying at every breath to belittle him or take him down). The crazies on the right and purists on the left pile on at every turn, and Obama just keeps on working at an exhausting pace with his eye to the future.

He took the helm on January 20, 2009 --he has had only 8 full months to right the sinking ship, that has been taking on water for years.

I am more than willing to give him 8 years to repair the almost insurmountable damage done by GWB and company.

[get the red out]

15. Thank you

Too many people think President's possess magic wands or something that can just get everything everyone wants.

Instant gratification is the bane of our society.

[goclark]

16. Ditto ~ nt

[tavalon]

10. Ow,

that's gonna leave a mark.

[usregimechange]

5. kick

[TheWatcher]

7. Delete. Wrong Place

[NeoConsSuck]

12. Love it!

This has to be giving the wingnuts a tummy ache!!

Beck will be calling Limbaugh today asking where he gets his meds from

[mvd]

17. I approve too, though I have some caveats

- Will he fight hard enough to get a public option passed? I think so, but I can't be 100% confident.

- Will he go against some of the people beating the war drum? Needs to be seen.

- Will he take up gay rights? I think he should give a nod to the resolutions coming out of Congress.

- Will he do what is needed to regulate the banks/Wall St.? There's a start, as he's making Wall St. a little uneasy, but he may need different economic voices on his team

- I don't agree with his education reforms, except for maybe spreading out vacations more.

- Remains to be seen how he does on the Patriot Act, spying, investigations into torture, etc.

Unless health care is a huge disappointment, I'll give him a term before being unhappy. He's got my support.

[indypaul]

18. Think it was Coolidge who told Hoover

You cannot put a bull and cow in the pasture and expect
a calf the next day. Obama has been president for all
of 9 months now and how can one be expected to clean up
eight years of screw-ups in that short period of time?