Suitably Flip

Barry Officially Least Popular Modern President

No other has matched the public antipathy he's secured by December of his first year in office.

As the year comes to a close, he's still in positive territory, but not by much. The latest survey, taken Friday through Sunday, puts the president's approval at 49%-46%. That is Obama's narrowest margin of the year, with his approval matching his low point in early October and his disapproval matching his high point later that month.

In comparison to the approval ratings for modern elected presidents in December of their first year in office, Obama's standing is the worst, though he's close to Ronald Reagan. In December 1981, Reagan's approval rating was also 49%, though his disapproval rating was a bit lower, 41%.

Gallup Poll ratings for the others: George W. Bush was at 86%, in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks; John Kennedy at 77%; the elder George Bush at 71%; Dwight Eisenhower at 69%; Richard Nixon at 59%; Jimmy Carter at 57%; and Bill Clinton at 54%.

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Barry Officially Least Popular Modern President

No other has matched the public antipathy he's secured by December of his first year in office.

As the year comes to a close, he's still in positive territory, but not by much. The latest survey, taken Friday through Sunday, puts the president's approval at 49%-46%. That is Obama's narrowest margin of the year, with his approval matching his low point in early October and his disapproval matching his high point later that month.

In comparison to the approval ratings for modern elected presidents in December of their first year in office, Obama's standing is the worst, though he's close to Ronald Reagan. In December 1981, Reagan's approval rating was also 49%, though his disapproval rating was a bit lower, 41%.

Gallup Poll ratings for the others: George W. Bush was at 86%, in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks; John Kennedy at 77%; the elder George Bush at 71%; Dwight Eisenhower at 69%; Richard Nixon at 59%; Jimmy Carter at 57%; and Bill Clinton at 54%.