Donald Trump helped drive up Obama's approval rating to 3-year high, Gallup says

President Obama is benefitting from this presidential race.

(Image credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

last updated 16 March 2016

President Obama's approval rating hit 52 percent on Friday, according to Gallup's three-day average, the highest Obama has scored in Gallup's approval poll since May 2013.

Most of Obama's rise above the 50 percent mark is driven by Democrats, 87 percent of whom approved of Obama's job performance, versus 11 percent of Republicans. "While it's hard to pinpoint precisely why Obama's approval rating has risen among Democrats recently," Gallup said, "the unusual status of the Republican primary race — exemplified in particular by frontrunner Donald Trump's campaign style and rhetoric — may serve to make Obama look statesmanlike in comparison." At this point in their second terms, Gallup said, George W. Bush was at 32 percent, Bill Clinton was at 63 percent, and Ronald Reagan was at 51 percent.

Congress isn't feeling the same love. Its approval rating is at 13 percent, according to Gallup's polling, up from 9 percent in November 2013 but toward the lower end of the 11-16 percent range it has languished in since last August.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.