Poll: 79% approve of way Obama is handling transition

[unapatriciated]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/Obama.poll/index.html


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- -- With six weeks before taking office, President-elect Barack Obama is having one heck of a honeymoon, a new national poll suggests.


A new CNN poll gives Barack Obama a 79 percent approval rating in the way he's handling the transition.

Nearly eight in 10 Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey out Tuesday morning are giving the president-elect the thumbs up when it comes to his handling of the transition.

Seventy-nine percent approve of Obama's performance so far during transition, with 18 percent disapproving.

Obama's approval rating is 14 points higher than the approval rating for President-elect George Bush in 2001 and 17 points higher than President-elect Clinton's rating in 1992, CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said.

Obama's current approval rating is also more than 50 points higher than President Bush's current approval rating, which now stands at 28 percent --- with 71 percent disapproving of the way Bush is handling his job as president.

"An Obama job approval rating of 79 percent -- that's the sort of rating you see when the public rallies around a leader after a national disaster," said Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst. "To many Americans, the Bush administration was a national disaster."

The poll indicates that 79 percent of the public thinks Obama will do a good job as president -- up 4 percentage points from last month. Eighteen percent think Obama will do a poor job as president, down 3 points from November.

And 78 percent of those questioned said they believe Obama will be a uniter -- 20 points higher than those who felt the same way about then President-elect Bush in 2000. Twenty percent say Obama will be a divider, 16 points lower than those who said the same about Bush.

"Bush came in promising to be a uniter, not a divider. That's a promise Bush failed to deliver -- as he himself acknowledged last week in an interview with ABC News when he said that one of his big disappointments is that the tone in Washington got worse rather than better," Schneider said.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. People are scared

They are losing their jobs, can't get loans, and are watching food prices go through the roof. This effects everyone, no matter what their political affiliation. Obama's calm demeanor during his weekly radio/youtube address and his frequent press conferences let folks know that someone with brains is finally getting ready to be in charge.

[AwakeAtLast]

2. The lack of arrogance and disdain helps a lot, too

I really think the whole country is breathing a small sigh of relief. They know that it won't be easy for Repukes to do any more damage.

[Mark E. Smith]

3. Great article

Pretty much confirms my view of what
is going on.

[Phoonzang]

4. The other 21 percent are at DU.

:hide:

[Kahuna]

5. And Free Republic..... And Rachel Maddow's click..

What's wrong with that picture..

on edit: totally changed post p::+

[polichick]

7. Well, DU posters actually know who he's picked for his cabinet...

...most Americans probably like Obama's cool calm presidential way, but have no idea who he has appointed or what their backgrounds are.

I'm just watching so far, inspired by his adviser choices but not the cabinet. Hopefully these folks are just meant to carry out the policies, and not shape them too much.

[uponit7771]

8. lol

[NYC Liberal]

6. Hmm, and Bush's approval rating happens to be about 20%.

Those are the people that will never approve of anything Obama does, ever.

[Historic NY]

9. He has done more in a few weeks that * did in the last 4 yrs....

sheesh.....people get over it already there's a new sheriff in town and he is going to do what has to be done, not what you think he should do.

[Clio the Leo]

10. That's even higher than last week I think. NT

[chat_noir]

11. ..."when the public rallies around a leader after a national disaster"

Obama’s poll numbers are up to 79/18 approve/disapprove, prompting CNN’s Bill Schneider to quip: “That’s the sort of rating you see when the public rallies around a leader after a national disaster. To many Americans, the Bush Administration was a national disaster.”



http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/09/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-tinfoil-scotus-boots-obama-nationality-case/#comment-1753248

[Jennicut]

12. Not surprised at all. Obama is humble, cool, calm, collected

The right leader for the times. Plus, Shrub and co made such a disaster of things.

[StrongBad]

13. "To many Americans, the Bush administration was a national disaster."

Bwahahahahha!

Nice to see this written in the press.