Approval ratings can be strange and at times change quickly. Probably not as fast as in the past considering the polarized political environment, we now live in. Trump’s overall approval rating was the most constant of any president since Gallup began keeping track of these things. He spent almost his entire president between 40-45% approval. No huge ups and no huge downs.
Obama saw his approval rating drop from 65% in May 2009 down to 48% in August 2009. He also rose from 44% in August of 2012 to 54% election day Nov 2012 when he won his reelection. A 10-point rise in just 3 months. He then abruptly fell back to 44% by April of 2013 and never rose above 50% again until just after the 2016 election.
G.W. Bush saw his approval rating rise from 51% Oct 2001, a month later he was at 90%. That was 9-11 caused. Then it was a slow steady drop until the end of his presidency to a low of just 28%. Bill Clinton was all over the place, dropping from 59% in March 1993 down to 37% in June 1993, then back up to 56% in Sep 1993. Of course, Bill would drop back down to 39% in Nov 1994 when for the first time in 40 years the GOP gained control of the house by winning 54 seats from the democrats. Bill was up to a 60% approval when he won reelection in Nov 1996. Bill’s entire presidency was one huge roller coaster ride of huge rises and huge drops in his overall approval rating.
What we see today in approval rating may not be what we see in a couple to three months. With Biden, one forgets his overall approval was at 55% in July 2021 before a steady decline down to 41% today. He dropped to 50% for August, 49% for September, 43% by the end of October. Biden has been between 40-42% ever since. Fact is Biden has averaged 42% approval since August 2021, just a single point better than Trump’s 41% average for his entire presidency.
I’d like to use Bill Clinton as an example of what can happen. But Bill was president prior to this modern political era we’ve entered of polarization, the great divide along with the super, mega, ultra-high partisanship. Bill could rebound and then fall off the cliff, then rebound again because he was well liked and very charismatic. Biden is well liked but has no charisma and basically no personality. Bill could connect with the people like only Reagan and FDR could and perhaps Obama needs to be added. People tend to fall asleep with Biden.
