Obama Enters Second Term with 51 Percent Approval

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By Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, Fred Backus and Brian Montopoli / CBS News

President Obama's approval rating stands at 51 percent as he prepares to be sworn in for a second term, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll. Forty-one percent of Americans say they disapprove of the overall job he is doing as president.

Mr. Obama's approval rating is down six points compared to December, shortly after his reelection, and is lower than the 62 percent approval rating he received shortly after taking office in 2009. His approval rating is slightly higher than where it stood at this point last year, when 47 percent approved of his performance and 45 percent disapproved.

Mr. Obama's approval rating hit its first-term high of 68 percent in April 2009, roughly 100 days after he first took office. His lowest rating came in March 2012, as Americans grappled with increased gas prices. His job rating hovered around 50 percent throughout 2010 and 2011, though it spiked to 57 percent in May 2011, after the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Heading into his second term, in January 2005, President George W. Bush had an approval rating of 49 percent. President Bill Clinton entered his second term with a 60 percent approval rating; President Ronald Reagan entered his second term with an approval rating of 62 percent.

Mr. Obama's approval rating is lower when it comes to specific issues. Just 37 percent approve of his handling of the budget deficit, while 54 percent disapprove. Forty-nine percent approve of his performance of foreign policy, 46 percent approve of his handling of the economy, and 45 percent approve of his handling of taxes.

This poll was conducted by telephone from January 11-15, 2013 among 1,110 adults nationwide.

Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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Daniel said on Sunday, Jan 20 at 9:36 PM

President Barack Obama could not pass a background check if he was applying for a gun permit or a job. Why has this man been allowed to remain in office or take the oath for a second time? During the 2008 campaign, it was known that: •His official, long form birth records were SEALED. •His Occidental College records were SEALED. •His Columbia College records were SEALED. •His Harvard College records were SEALED. •His College thesis – SEALED. •His Harvard Law Review articles – SEALED. •His Indonesian adoption records – SEALED. •His passport file – SEALED. •His medical records – Unavailable •His baptism records – Unavailable •His papers from his service in the Illinois legislature – Unavailable •His Illinois State Bar Association records – Unavailable The birth certificate that the White House released is reputed by document experts to be false. The Social Security number he has used was issued to someone else. He could not pass an E-Verify test.

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rex said on Saturday, Jan 19 at 12:22 PM

please correct this it is incorrect that obama got 51% MIT GOT 49% THAT DOES NOT MEAN that he got the rest you have to account for the votes that the indepents got which means that Mit won the poular vote and obama wins the eletorial vote GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT STOP BEING A HACK REPORTER AND JUST REPORT THE FACTS

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Ralph F. said on Saturday, Jan 19 at 9:24 AM

I didn't get Polled and if you believe this B S I have 2 bridges for sale one one each coast of the US

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Seriously nutballs said on Saturday, Jan 19 at 9:21 AM

A poll doesn't have to call everyone in America to be valid, idiots. You also have to have a job and be able to afford a phone, which clearly DQs all of you. FOUR MORE YEARS!

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markl said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:56 PM

A CBS poll,,nothing to trust. Look at the comments. obama did not win the election, it was another fake election ...look at the people who are mad as hell !

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Big Hog Dog said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:54 PM

Has anyone noticed that since Oblahblah signed his 23 executive orders on gun control, Yahoo hasn't posted an article about it. I do believe His Highness does control the media.

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Mike Hunt said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:52 PM

Who the hell cares what the dumb-masses think? The train is coming down the track upon them and they are clearing the cattle. The masses deserve tyranny and they got it. People are too stupid to be free.

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JORGE said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:41 PM

YOU LOST! Get it through your head; Nothing to us was worst than the Bush's & Regan! COMMUNIST is when you take a $319 Billion Dollar Surplus (CLINTON) to a $420 Billion Deficit (BUSH II)

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Mark W Clark said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:40 PM

I just wonder what his APPROVAL rating would be if ALL U.S. CITIZENS where included! It's so funny these polls only include a select group of people! DID WE REALLY ELECT this PRESIDENT or was this done in a closed door session like so many things in WASHINGTON D.C.!

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Mizarsix said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:39 PM

Apparently there's a whole lot of people in Alaska that can't handle being in the minority. Incidentally, the most uneducated of us tend to be in the right wing, I'm just sayin'. They're the most malleable. All this coming from a state that produced Sarah Palin...I'm not surprised. You guys wouldn't know a good president if you tripped over one. And you just did...

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frank t said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:34 PM

well, if they'd asked me they would have had one more on the approval side.

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Jeff B. said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:33 PM

They must have polled 51% of the dumbest people in the U.S. They probably polled all the illegals that he gave the voting rights to. Or maybe the illegals that get our benefits even though they haven't lived or worked in the U.S.

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BL said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:27 PM

I saw the Obama Phone Lady in an interview dicovering how Obama has even lied to her. I would vote for her in a minute if she ran against him. I still can't believe he's getting a 2nd term..............somebody slap me! Please wake me from this nightmare!

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dom said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:24 PM

they only asked 1100 people, how is that accurate?

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clockwise44 said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:19 PM

When you're robbing peter to pay paul, you'll always have pauls support.

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Kurt said on Friday, Jan 18 at 12:10 PM

That should tell you that 49% of Americans work for a living. Also that he'll have to eliminate 49% of the population if he wants to be King. Very sad to watch him flush the us down the toilet and see 51% of the population are okay with becoming serf's

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Edward said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:57 AM

BREAKING NEWS:Wanted information on the whereabouts of a little chicken last seen trying to convince a group of people who post on this forum that any poll stating anything positive about the President was not to be believed.He was also telling them that the sky was falling.God Bless he or she who posts on this forum and God Bless America.

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Pastrp! said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:55 AM

The real deal is that regerdless of who had the office previously there have, and will be challenges. All of the negative comments that we put out makes the U.S. look like a house divided. I will say that as others empowered their own efforts in the WHITE house and some of you said nothing about the direction of the country but here's a thrust to help THE people and most of these comments come from folk who benefit from the aid of those we degrade.

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Anonymous said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:54 AM

they surely polled racist white devil america

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Yore said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:44 AM

No called and one ask me !

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Bob Jones said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:38 AM

Keeping in mind that the ultra left media always manipulates the news/facts to favor the OBAMA gang, who really trusts such "polls"? This president portrays himself as a monarch of a subservient country, not the USA.

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Doug J. said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:36 AM

Keep pouring the kool-aid, its cheap. The sheeple will follow, being blindly obedient.

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Packer Fan said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:32 AM

Obama sucks and is going to turn America into a Communist Country. Even the lady from Cleveland that wanted the free Obama Phone says she screwed up giving him her vote, so what does that say.

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j. cairns said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:26 AM

I wonder what the results of the election would be if he was up front with his views on using executive orders to trim a little fat off the constitution....

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Rosa said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:25 AM

I am part of the 41%.

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joe said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:18 AM

Serious, is the majority of america still that stupid. I can maybe understand the lesser of two evils argument in Novemeber (though i think he was the bigger evil) But, the majority of people are actually happy with him. I guess god chose not to bless us all with a brain.

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Anonymous said on Friday, Jan 18 at 11:00 AM

There are approximately 30% of American far right gun freak, racists who would never give the President a compliment for any reason. It is a truly vitriolic hate.

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akrock said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:59 AM

According to this story you can nullify the 50/50 which only leaves a 1% approval rating. WooHoo, whoopty doo.

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Les Saunders said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:57 AM

I was polled on Nove. 6th, 2012 and I'm among the 51% that didn't vote for Mittens...Just think where we would be now with Mittens in Office?

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mccotter said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:56 AM

it went up from 47% to 51% keep up the good work obama and we will all be on welfare except the millionaires some one got to paid

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Greg M. said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:56 AM

With media like yahoo, cbs, nbc, new york times, la times, etc... he should be at 100% but most intelligent people know he is a dangerous fool.

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J.L. Thompson said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:53 AM

Yep, I'll buy the 51%.... 51% of those that voted for him....

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The Pirogue said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:50 AM

Did anyone notice they stated 1,110 adult were polled? A good representative number for the whole country. (Sarcasm)

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gwir said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:49 AM

52% got him elected but he acts as if 90% elected him. He is very divisive and does not know how to pull the country together. I don't think history will not be kind to Mr. Obama.

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do something said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:49 AM

bunch of people on b!@#hing and complaining... If we all worked as hard as we complain, maybe things would be different in this country!

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Louis said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:49 AM

I wouldn't believe anything that any media outlet, other than Fox, would tell me about anything the president does, is, or has been.

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Paul Revere said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:45 AM

Did they poll any homeless people?

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Paul Revere said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:43 AM

Was this a phone poll?

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sbmike said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:42 AM

51% huh? Another poll asked how many people would be watching the inauguration. Only 21% want to see their beloved leader sworn in for another four tortuous years. Go figure...

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jeff weim said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:34 AM

Doesn,t full me, What a joke..

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Ex-pat to be said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:29 AM

Wow, that's pretty bad when the liberal press can only manipulate the numbers of their own liberal democrat pollees to show 51%!

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BobD said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:09 AM

I believe all the posts ahead of me pretty well sums up my thoughts on the poll and the POS Odumbo..

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james durham said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:09 AM

Obama has once again proved that we are moving away from democracy..my payroll tax'S have increased again by 7$ and my "raise" was 20 cents an hour I cant see how raising taxs again will help...im going out to buy some ammo

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Justme said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:08 AM

You would probably get more correct results polling high schoolers

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ronh said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:06 AM

Oblaba supporters are like christmas lights-----most don't work, and the ones that do are not very bright!!!!

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Richard Jones said on Friday, Jan 18 at 10:04 AM

Many thought the same thing about George W. Bush and I am pretty sure some of you all voted twice for that person that proven to be a lame duck president in the end.

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Rick Driskell said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:56 AM

The misguided 51% that elected him. These people are so easily fooled by Obama the great. He is acting more like a king now, not a president. It's hard to believe that so many people pay so little attention to what Obama is doing. Divide and conquer is his mantra. He has done an excellent job of convincing the weak minded people of his abilities.

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Anonymous said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:56 AM

hello is anyone home the lights are on but nobody's home here .lib snow cones anyone .and this is real news ..

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MadameX said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:56 AM

I bet the % of error is at least 2.5% points either way. 51% might be less than 49% or as much as 53.5%. How many people were polled? How old are they? What political party do they belong to? All questions that go into the numbers.

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jetago said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:53 AM

That's the 51% standing on the street corner with their hands out for some more fed's goodies. The 41% are the ones that are paying the tab!!!! IT SUCKS, AND SO DOES OBAMA!!!!

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big daddy said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:53 AM

they have been in the cold to long and there brains are frost bitten

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Anonymous said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:49 AM

its like giving a vote in a prison the warden says whats real so what do you expect from the liberal news site cream cheese .its always going to be favornot like thye want

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Richard said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:49 AM

Lynne, What do you mean, "No one polled me." Of course, they did-- they're called, Texas and they've been doing it since you were young.

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jay russell said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:48 AM

no wonder so many morons are commenting its alaska thee last pointless frontier can you all just secede already nobody really pays attention to you anyway.

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Anonymous said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:46 AM

its like sa

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Richard said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:44 AM

Agreed - worst President in US history, accelerating our decline, inciting class warfare, ensuring America is worse off for the future.

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Little Nepitiz said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:43 AM

YoYO Ma's cousin say: He may have 51% of you, but he has 0% of me!

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William Pettus Sr said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:36 AM

Obama got 51% of what poll. I don,t believe he ever got that kind of approval for anything.I think he is the lowest parasite ever to get into public office. I wasn,t polled either !

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Ms Pat said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:33 AM

How can Obama's approval rate be 51%? You must have called the most uneducated, uninformed,citizens in the USA.

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Gary Elmore said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:32 AM

Pretty sure that is not a fair representation of his rating outside of New York and the liberal media circle.

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Ashley Allen said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:31 AM

What a crock!

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Lynne Paris said on Friday, Jan 18 at 9:27 AM

No one polled me. I think he stinks!!!

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