Pew released a poll last week showing the partisan gap in President Obama’s approval numbers is the largest in modern history. Like many recent surveys, Pew finds Obama’s overall approval rating at 59 percent. But unpacking those numbers demonstrates the largest variability among self-identified partisans in the modern era. Pew writes:
Looking at presidential “approval” among self-identified partisans over time reveals growing polarization over the past two decades. For example, in the mid-1970s, 56% of self-identified Republicans approved of Jimmy Carter’s presidency at this point in his term. Similarly, 55% of Democrats approved of Richard Nixon in mid-March of his first term. Fast forward to Reagan and Bush 41, and we see Democratic approval sank to 41%. Over last 20 years support has declined even more. Only 26% of Republicans supported Bill Clinton in March of 1993, while 36% of Democrats approved of George W. Bush. President Obama’s approval levels are only 27% among self-identified Republicans. At the same time, presidents’ support among their own partisans has edged up – but not that dramatically. Average presidential approval for U.S. presidents from Nixon to Clinton was about 80% among their own self-identified partisans. By contrast, George W .Bush’s approval among Republicans in March of his first term was 87%, while Barack Obama’s standing with Democrats is at 88% according to Pew. Pew concludes:
Read the full report here.
