Obama’s Approval Rating Surges After Tucson Shooting

Continued improvements in the economy and the president’s speech calling for unity amid tragedy have pushed his approval rating up 8 points.

Perversely, tragedies are good for presidents. Bill Clinton saw his popularity spike after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, as did George W. Bush in the wake of 9-11. A recent survey shows that Obama’s response to the Jan. 8 shooting rampage in Arizona hit home with Americans, boosting his approval rating to 53 per cent. The numbers are encouraging for Obama as the U.S. ramps up for the marathon election cycle before the 2012 presidential vote, but analysts say his gains could be reversed if the gradually recovering economy stalls. At this point in his presidency, Clinton’s approval rating was 45 per cent, and he went on to win a second term.