WASHINGTON — President Obama’s job-approval rating during his first term was 49 percent — among the lowest for post-World War II presidents, a new Gallup poll yesterday revealed.
Obama, who won re-election despite a fragile economy, bested only Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, who had 45 percent and 47 percent approval ratings, respectively, during their first terms.
Both Carter and Ford were defeated when they sought second terms.
Carter was bedeviled by high oil prices, inflation and the Iranian hostage crisis. Ford assumed the presidency after Richard Nixon stepped down while facing impeachment over the Watergate scandal.
Obama’s approval rating was only slightly below Ronald Reagan’s (50.3 percent) and Bill Clinton’s (49.6 percent). Both won re-election under more robust economic conditions.
Lyndon Johnson had the highest approval rating among modern presidents — 74 percent — after succeeding John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. Dwight Eisenhower had a job-approval rating of 70 percent.
“Obama’s first term was a difficult one,” Gallup said in its analysis. “However, he was able to maintain sufficient public support, particularly during the critical final months of the 2012 campaign, to win a second term in office.”