President Obama’s job approval over the last month of Gallup’s daily tracking poll was the highest it’s been since the killing of terroritist Osama bin Laden in May of 2011. That month his approval rating averaged 50 percent after the successful raid by Navy SEALs on bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan took place on May 2nd, nearly a year ago today. Obama’s rating averaged 47 percent in Gallup’s numbers through the month of April, 2012.
Gallup provided some historical context for Presidents’ approval ratings during an election year:
President Obama’s job approval rating has slowly but steadily improved since bottoming out last year. It is notable that his ratings are going up, given that recent incumbents who were defeated for re-election, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, saw their approval ratings generally headed downward in the election year. Those who were re-elected were generally above 50% for most if not all of the election year.
Still, at this stage, Obama’s odds of being re-elected next November are not firmly established. Since Gallup began Daily tracking of registered voters’ preferences in the 2012 election on April 11, Obama and likely Republican opponent Mitt Romney have essentially been tied, with 46% supporting each. That includes a 47% Romney-46% Obama division in the latest Gallup five-day average. Each candidate has had a brief period when he appeared to be leading, but in general, things have returned to an essentially even division, reflecting a close race.
