Bush’s Popularity Nears Obama’s

Former President G.W. Bush left office with record-low favorability, but has recovered enough to catch President Obama suffering through a low point in his second term.

As of June 10, more people had a favorable view of Bush (49%) than unfavorable (46%). A 14-point improvement from his Gallup record low in March 2009.

Bush caught Obama on his way down. Obama enjoyed 60 percent plus ratings throughout 2008 and 2009 and held his favorability in the mid to the high 50 percent range in early 2010. But by the end of 2010, the midterm shellacking and during the presidential campaign, his numbers dropped further. He recovered in the November election win, but congressional gridlock and scandals have taken a toll. 

Bush still has had a long way to go for an ex-president. His dad, Bill Clinton and even Jimmy Carter had favorability ratings in the upper 60 percent range five years after leaving office.

See Gallup: Former President George W. Bush’s image ratings improve