An Obama 51 percent approval rating ahead of his second term shows the majority of Americans are happy with his job in the White House. As the gun control debate looms, this may weigh heavily on what laws and directives are put in place to stem the rising rates of gun violence.
In a Jan. 18 CBS News report, a joint poll that was released Friday shows that President Barack Obama is off to a good start before embarking on his second term.
A CBS News/New York Times poll showed an Obama 51 percent job approval, while 41 percent dislike the way he is handling his job as president.
The presidential poll taken between Jan. 11-15 also shows a few other things that are not cause for celebration.
First, the president's numbers are somewhat similar to when George W. Bush took office during his second time around.
Second, Obama's approval rating dropped nine points since December.
Third, the poll suggests that his rating is far below peers like Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton at the start of their second terms.
Not surprisingly, the poll suggests that the so-called fiscal cliff negotiations had no impact on Barack Obama's ability to oversee the U.S. economy. Those numbers remain at 46 in approval versus 49 percent in disapproval.
Another thing to remember is that, while the Congress prevented the economy from going over the fiscal cliff, lawmakers and the president must cope with another potential monetary crisis over the debt ceiling.
With sweeping executive orders and proposals put in place days ago, the president has pledged to take the lead over the gun control debate in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.
Ironically, Obama's 51 percent approval rating is similar to how Americans view solutions put forth by the president and NRA over gun control legislation. Like the presidential poll, Americans are split over how to decrease gun violence.
What say you about the president's job performance?
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