Colorado Moves Closer to Obama in 2012, But is Still in the Middle Nationally

Gallup has just released a state-by-state comparison of Barack Obama’s 2012 average approval rating. Overall, it went up 4 points compared to 2011, from 44 percent to 48 percent.  Colorado was just below the national average at 46 percent approval. It represented a relatively high 6 percent increase over his 40 percent 2011 approval.

Colorado was joined by a half dozen other battleground states with mid-level approvals.

Colorado stands out in a region surrounded on three sides by states where Obama’s approval tends to be near freezing or lower: Wyoming 28%, Utah 28%, Nebraska 37%, Kansas 38% and Oklahoma 35%.

Obama received majority approval in only 14 states, but that was better than the 10 states that gave him majority approval in 2011.

Had Obama’s approval remained at the low 2011 level, he likely would have lost to Mitt Romney. A variety of factors that explain his improved approval rating and re-election are now being analyzed for a host of articles and books that will be published soon. I published my list in September 2012 when it appeared Obama’s lead, especially in the battleground states, was unshakable.

Obama’s post inaugural approval has improved to a solid, but unremarkable, 52 percent according to Gallup.

See:
The Buzz: If Obama wins, why?
Gallup: Obama gets highest 2012 job approval in Hawaii, D.C.