Gursharan Kaur, wife of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Michelle Obama, first lady of the United States, and Kim Yoon-ok, first lady of Korea, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, today. (AP Photo by Joel Ryan)
by Mark Silva
Lest words such as eclipse and overshadow creep into the conversation, Michelle Obama's arrival in Europe does raise the question of which Obama is capturing more of the attention of Europeans eager to embrace a new image of America.
Back home, it seems, the first lady has a slightly better image than the president - both of them quite favorably viewed by the American public in general.
This is not new - Former First Lady Laura Bush generally carried higher favorability ratings than her husband, the former president, and increasingly the White House dispatched the more popular first lady to serve as the face of the administration - from Africa to Afghanistan and Altoona.
Now, Gallup also notes that the three percentage-point difference between the two "is not statistically significant." But it's important to look at the other side of the coin, too: ichelle Obama's much lower unfavorable ratings ,compared with the president's (17 versus 28 percent) "give her the clear edge in public favorability.''
This comes from a March 27-29 Gallup Poll.
And, since the days before inauguration of the 44th president, Michelle Obama's 's rating has improved, her husband's has fallen. The president's 79 percent favorable rating in January - "perhaps inflated by the excitement about his pending inauguration'' -- ranked among the highest Gallup has found since it started asking the favorability question in its current format, in 1992.
"It is not uncommon'' for first ladies to enjoy better images than their husbands, Gallup notes.
"Laura Bush averaged a 71 percent favorable rating from 2001-2009, compared to George W. Bush's 56 percent average.''
"The greater popularity of first ladies likely reflects that their role is far less controversial than that of the president, which often results in less partisan ratings of the first lady,'' Gallup adds.
. The president's 69 percent favorable rating also exceeds his job-approval rating, which has mostly stood in the low 60 percent range since taking office. That also is " typical,'' Gallup notes. "Presidents usually receive higher favorable ratings (which assess their likeability) than job approval ratings (which ask for a job-performance evaluation).''
The results of the latest survey of 1,007 adults run March 27-29 carries a possible margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.
Comments
This must burn the ankle biting rabid. The ones they hate so much.....liked so much by America. Once again they are out of touch, out classed, and out of power.
Posted by: bill r. | April 2, 2009 8:15 AM
Michelle O is a good role model for young black girls.
Maybe black females will start dressing more appropriately, learn to speak properly and take their education seriously.
That is the least she will do.
Perhaps, other foreign countries can move up black candidates for office. Where are black jews for prime minister, where is the black French president, where is the black English prime minister, the black Spanish leader, the black Japanese leader?
Posted by: at last | April 2, 2009 8:34 AM
atlast........and maybe the rabid will learn a little class!
Posted by: bill r. | April 2, 2009 9:07 AM
So I take it 'for the first time in her life' she is proud of America?
Posted by: Batboy | April 2, 2009 9:12 AM
Michelle inspires me to take all my money out my accounts and buy clothes and hate America. Thanks Michelle. Life goes on.
Posted by: Corky Thatcher | April 2, 2009 9:20 AM
So what?
We didn't vote for michelle.
She's not running the country.
She's not doing a good/bad job fixing/not fixing the problems of America.
And what bill r's comment has to do with michelle's approval rating and people hating, being out of touch, out classed,or out of paoer escapes me.
And "at last's" comment regarding where are the black France PM or black German ministers etc......
I thought obama is our president ..not just president of the blacks !!!
I'm really really tired of the race card business !!
Posted by: Mike Z | April 2, 2009 9:32 AM
of course, in the words of tv philospher DL Hugelu, "they be so cool!" unless of course you live in Tel Aviv, the aim point for an Iranian Nuclear missle, where it will become very,very hot, and it won't be because of global warming
Posted by: Mister Peepers | April 2, 2009 9:52 AM
Let the "Rainbow Tour" (ala Eva Peron) begin!
Posted by: BDD | April 2, 2009 10:06 AM
Wonder if the question was brought up why she hated America.
Posted by: Inky | April 2, 2009 10:38 AM
The rabid right will continue to take her "for the first time I am proud of America" comments out of context for the next 8 years. So much hate.
Posted by: MR FACE | April 2, 2009 10:47 AM
Why do we care for someone who hasn't done much for the nation? Why do black people always think black and nothing else. Why we have to move black officials up because we have a black First family? So isn't this reverse inequality?
Posted by: Neal | April 2, 2009 10:48 AM
And what bill r's comment has to do with michelle's approval rating and people hating, being out of touch, out classed,or out of paoer escapes me.
Posted by: Mike Z | April 2, 2009 9:32 AM
Take a stroll down a few threads to the one on the Queen and Ipod. There you can see the most tasteless of comments. Also......atlast is an obvious Obama hater trying to stir a little hate against the blacks.
Posted by: bill r. | April 2, 2009 10:53 AM
Hey Inky, did she actually say that she hated America? No I didn't think so. So why don't you just grow up instead of making things up. Look, you've had five months to get used to the idea that we now have a black president and first lady. Deal with it and move on. Now, if you want to offer some adult cnstructive criticism I'm sure you will have more than a Republican ear to hear you out. Is Michelle Obama perfect? Of course not but neither are you!!!
Posted by: karina | April 2, 2009 10:59 AM
Here's the tribune being politically correct again. Michele is nothing but overrated by the tribune and Oprah, she has no class whatsoever.
Posted by: Denny Crane | April 2, 2009 11:07 AM
Just look at that dress! It looks like something from a Designer School dropout!
Will somebody buy her a something that looks good because her taste in clothes is pretty bad.
Posted by: David | April 2, 2009 11:10 AM
Why do black people always think black and nothing else.
Posted by: Neal | April 2, 2009 10:48 AM
Yes those color blind rights sure are inclusive. Why have you always voted for a "white" president? All things white?
Posted by: bill r. | April 2, 2009 11:16 AM
Will somebody buy her a something that looks good because her taste in clothes is pretty bad.
Posted by: David | April 2, 2009 11:10 AM
Well she looks good in THE WHITEHOUSE....ha ha ha ha!!
Posted by: bill r. | April 2, 2009 11:44 AM
What's this sweater thing? I don't have a problem with sweaters, but if she's going to wear them they shouldn't look like she is wearing one a size too small. That skirt looks familiar, I think we made that exact same pattern in Home-Economics back in the early 60's. Mrs. Obama is an elegant woman, too bad her designers at times detract from her beauty with over-the-top gawdy outfits.
Posted by: vla | April 2, 2009 11:48 AM
Hey Inky, did she actually say that she hated America? No I didn't think so. So why don't you just grow up instead of making things up. Look, you've had five months to get used to the idea that we now have a black president and first lady. Deal with it and move on. Now, if you want to offer some adult cnstructive criticism I'm sure you will have more than a Republican ear to hear you out. Is Michelle Obama perfect? Of course not but neither are you!!!
Posted by: karina | April 2, 2009 10:59 AM
Sounds like you have a short memory.
Posted by: Inky | April 2, 2009 12:05 PM
She never said it, Inky.
Why do you hate America, Inky?
Posted by: Flo | April 2, 2009 1:31 PM
In actuality, except for Mrs. Clinton, almost all first ladies have scored well in polls. For example, Laura Bush, Jackie Kennedy, Barbara Bush, Pat Nixon, Eleanor Roosevelt and Lady Bird Johnson among others were very popular. Mamie Eisenhower was highly revered but it was hard to beat Ike's super high ratings.
Posted by: Daryl | April 2, 2009 3:14 PM
First Lady Michelle Obama visited London.
As it happened! The shocking video.
watch this video
Posted by: Antony | April 2, 2009 4:05 PM
All you HATERS who want to bring up Michelle hating America (she doesn't, never did)--give it a rest. Quote her correctly or shut up.
Anyone who is not black cannot tell a black person how they should feel about the United States. You won't ever know--you can't. Besides, I never understand why any feels they can tell another how they should feel about their situation. Live your life. Stop trying to tell others how to live theirs.
Anyway, she's beautiful, she's different, she's exciting. Get over it.
Posted by: Brenda | April 2, 2009 11:46 PM