Page 5 - Aruba Today

U.S. NEWS A5
Monday 11 April 2016

AP-GfK Poll:

Improved economic outlook boosts Obama approval

“I just feel that he’s out of at corporate tax dodgers,
risking riling Wall Street but
touch with what’s going capitalizing on the popu-
lism of the moment.
on. I feel like he’s more He has put himself at the
front and center of the fight
concerned with his lega- over the Supreme Court,
returning on Thursday to
cy that making change,” the law school where he
once taught and portray-
said Angela Buckmaster, ing the Republican block-
ade of his nominee to re-
a 47-year-old Republican place conservative Justice
Antonin Scalia as a threat
from Lansing, Michigan. to democracy. The White
House says Obama always
Still, the numbers may help planned to squeeze ev-
ery last minute out of his
explain some of Obama’s two terms, regardless of
his popularity. Aides have
recent swagger and why promised more policy an-
nouncements, particularly
it’s likely to continue as he economic initiatives, as
several efforts long in the
tries to rally his party behind works come to fruition.q

its eventual 2016 nominee

— Hillary Clinton or Bernie

President Barack Obama speaks in the briefing room of the Sanders.

White House in Washington. As many people in the United States Obama has been quick to
hold their noses in the search for the next president, they’re in- take aim at the Republican
creasingly warming to the president they already have. candidates. This past week,
he called front-runner
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

KATHLEEN HENNESSEY other countries and make Trump’s latest immigration
EMILY SWANSON deals,” Trudeau said, citing proposal “half-baked.” The
Associated Press Obama’s climate change president seized the spot-
WASHINGTON (AP) — As pacts with China as an ex- light with a new rule and
many people in the United ample. “Donald Trump will aggressive critique aimed

States hold their noses in the never be able to do that.

search for the next presi- He would try to bully them.”

dent, they’re increasingly Obama’s numbers remain

warming to the president modest.

they already have. Compared with his prede-

Buoyed by some good eco- cessors, he’s well above Re-

nomic news and a surge of publican George W. Bush,

goodwill from his base of who had about a 30 per-

supporters, President Barack cent approval rating at this

Obama is seeing his ap- point in his presidency, but

proval rating rise. That puts below Democrat Bill Clin-

Obama, who leaves office ton’s roughly 60 percent,

in January, in a position to according to polls conduct-

remain a force in the politi- ed by Gallup. Still, where

cal debate at a point in his each of those second-term

final term when some of his presidents largely sat on the

predecessors faded into the sidelines during the races

background. to replace them, Obama is

For the first time since 2013, poised to stay in the game.

half of those questioned ap- Approval ratings gener-

prove of the job Obama is ally are tied to how people

doing in office, according feel about the economy.

to an Associated Press-GfK Obama has enjoyed and

poll. The survey found the promoted a steady trickle

apparent uptick in approv- of positive economic news.

al extended across issues, The survey showed people

including foreign affairs, were slightly more likely to

immigration and, most no- describe the economy as

tably the economy, where good and slightly more op-

people said they felt slightly timistic about their own fi-

better about their own pros- nancial situations than they

pects and Obama’s stew- were in February.

ardship. Still, 54 percent characterize

Asked about their opinion the economy as poor.

of Obama more generally, While the poll found an in-

those surveyed were more crease in approval among

likely to give him a positive Democrats and with peo-

rating than any of the can- ple under 50, there is no

didates for president, Re- evidence that Republican

publican or Democrat. opposition is thawing or that

Terry Trudeau, 66, said he the president has become

preferred Obama to “all of a less polarizing figure. Only

them” running for the White about 1 in 10 Republicans

House. expressed a positive opinion

“One of the qualities I like is of Obama or the job he’s

he’s been able to work with doing.