President Barack Obama’s approval rating is nearing 50%, according to a recent CNN poll. The approval rating numbers are crucial for Obama’s reelection chances, especially heading into the GOP primary battle. The survey indicates that the president’s approval ratings sit at 49%, up five points from last month. The rating is Obama’s highest since May, thanks to a boost following the killing of Osama bin Laden.
One factor behind the rising poll numbers is the current partisan battle over extending the payroll tax cut. “President Barack Obama’s approval rating appears to be fueled by dramatic gains among middle-income Americans,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “The data suggest that the debate over the payroll tax is helping Obama’s efforts to portray himself as the defender of the middle class.”
