Poll: 79 percent approve of Michelle Obama

[mucifer]

FROM USA TODAY

President Barack Obama's approval rating is strong, but his wife has him beat by a wide margin.

In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll survey, taken Monday and Tuesday, 79 percent say they approve of the way Michelle Obama is handling the job of first lady. Just 8 percent disapprove.
While Barack Obama's rating shows a sharp partisan divide -- Democrats overwhelmingly approve but most Republicans don't -- Michelle Obama's appeal crosses party lines. Almost every Democrat expresses approval, 94 percent-1 percent. Even among Republicans, her approval rating is a muscular 64 percent-17 percent.

Obama's ratings aren't a record high for a president's wife, but they're close. The highest approval rating since FDR's administration was for Laura Bush in January 2005, as her husband was being sworn in for his second term. Then, 85 percent said she was doing a good job. And in February 1999, Hillary Rodham Clinton -- now secretary of state, then her way to being elected as a New York senator -- had an approval rating of 80 percent.

Most first ladies can only dream of reaching that sort of territory. Keep in mind that this question has only rarely been asked about first ladies. When it has, here are the top scores of Michelle Obama's predecessors: Nancy Reagan, 58 percent in April 1987; Rosalynn Carter, 59 percent in August 1979; Pat Nixon, 54 percent in June 1969; and Eleanor Roosevelt, 68 percent in February 1940.

The new poll of 1,051 adults, taken by land line and cell phone, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

A USA Today/Gallup Poll says 79 percent of Americans approve of the way Michelle Obama is handling her job. This tops her husband's approval rating of 64 percent.
(AP)



That tops her husband's approval rating, which was 64 percent approve-28 percent disapprove in the Gallup Poll posted Wednesday.

Asked about the first lady's stronger showing, White House adviser David Axelrod joked in an interview, "Fortunately, she's agreed not to run."
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1541541,w-michelle-obama-barack-approval-rating-042309.article

[Forkboy]

1. Should be higher.

[RobertSeattle]

3. wingnuts...

The Obama's could cure cancer and they'd complain about it.

[Kdillard]

5. Exactly

[Arkana]

2. Michelle 2016.

[Deja Q]

4. SHe's a classy lady with great dress sense, and I've appreciated what she has to _say_.

:yourock:

[Captain Hilts]

7. We will have progressed when 'dress sense' just doesn't matter a damn. nt

[ellie]

6. Who wouldn't approve of her?

She's just wonderful!

[NYC_SKP]

8. So, 21% don't have a fucking clue, the just don't like her.

I'd LOVE to hear reasons from this minority that they don't approve of Michelle Obama.

:patriot:

[Captain Hilts]

9. They don't need a reason. That's what being narrow minded is about.

And Michelle has deliberately keep a pretty tight profile by talking about 'being a mommy first'. Even though she has a policy adviser...

So, she's not really put herself out there as Hillary did. And that's probably a good strategy right now.

I thought having her visit the various government agencies was a great idea.

[MADem]

10. Why should she, or any wife of a public official, need "approval?" I never understood that stuff.

We don't pay her a salary, I didn't see her name on the ballot, she's forced, by "custom and tradition," to do all sorts of stuff that is light and fluffy and "housewife-y," otherwise she'll be turned on by a pack of rabid media dogs, and then, we have the stones to want to JUDGE the woman? On her "performance?" It seems like a lotta nerve on the part of the public, IMO.

This goes for all of 'em--from Jackie Kennedy to Nancy Reagan to Evil Grandma and Laura Bush. They didn't wake up as little kids and wish for this as a "career." But they're stuck with it, for four to eight years, like it or not. It's not like they can open up a bakery or a restaurant, or "E Bay" out of their homes. Their "job" is laid out for them. It's like doing a bit in the can (geezer slang for "Doing a jail term").

I cut First Ladies a fair amount of slack for that reason. And I think the only approval that needs to be happening with them should be happening in their own family unit!

That said, I wish her the best. If this stupid "approval rating" means something to her, I hope it stays high.

[Thrill]

11. What happened to the outrage. Shes not proud of her country. She hates America

More proof of the nonsense Republicans speak

[21st century fox]

12. This is amazing when you consider how the Repubes

tried to characterize her as "angry." I know personally of one older White lady who said Michelle was angry. I knew that racial stereotypes easily lend themselves to this sort of thing, along with the fact that Michelle is such a strong personality. Remember--she was the POTUS' boss!!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. k&r....

:kick:

[Number23]

14. Brown, brilliant and beautiful. What's not to love??

:)

[FrenchieCat]

15. You just wait till that Whitey tape comes out.....

and plus, her husband hasn't even closed the deal yet! :rofl:

[fujiyama]

16. She's a strong woman

Dealing with all those death threats her husband faces must be very stressful but she has handled it with incredible calmness.

[Bleacher Creature]

17. What is there that one could possibly disapprove of?

I know the holdouts are the Bush dead-enders, but there's just no logic behind it (not that I'm surprised).