A new CBS News/New York Times poll shows 51 percent of Americans approve of the job President Barack Obama is doing. A full 41 percent disapprove.
Obama's approval rating going into his second term is comparable to George W. Bush's in 2005, but much lower than either Bill Clinton's at the start of his second term in 1997 (when his approval rating was 60 percent) or Ronald Reagan's in 1985 (when it was 62 percent).
Fully 80 percent of Democrats approve of the job the president is doing, but his numbers falter among Republicans, only 20 percent of whom approve of Obama.
"The public has not changed its assessment of Mr. Obama's handling of the economy since the last-minute negotiations with Congress to avert the automatic tax increases and spending cuts that were scheduled to take affect at the end of last year," said the New York Times. "Almost half, 46 percent, approve of the way the president has been dealing with the economy and 49 percent disapprove."
There is a similar split in sentiment on the fiscal cliff deal in particular. The compromise extended the Bush-era tax cuts for families making under $450,000 per year, not $250,000 like Obama and most Americans wanted.
Only 45 percent of respondents approved of Obama's record on taxes, while 49 percent disapproved, though that number likely includes many people who believe taxes are too low and a nearly equal number who believe they are too high.
At the same time, Americans are unhappy with the size of the federal debt. "Mr. Obama's management of the overall federal budget deficit continues to be viewed negatively: 37 percent approve and 54 percent disapprove, including a quarter of Democrats," said the Times. Americans don't want to be in debt, but they don't want to do anything required to pay it off, whether tax hikes or spending cuts.
Obama fares better on foreign policy, likely due at least in part to his popular Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
"Almost half, 49 percent, of respondents approve of the president's handling of foreign policy, and 36 percent disapprove," said the Times.
The poll had a good sample size, and includes cellphone data, so it's likely a good representation of sentiment throughout the country as a whole.
More data from the poll will be released later today, so look for more analysis soon.