by Mark Silva
Michelle Obama has "taken the country by storm.''
When a serious-minded pollster such as Andrew Kohut offers that explanation for the first lady's soaring approval ratings, it's time to take a closer look:
The public's opinion of the first lady, as a person, is even higher than its opinion of the president, as a person - with a 73 percent "fave'' rating for President Barack Obama in the new Pew Research Center poll, and a 76 for the first lady. That's not unusual - first ladies generally don't become ensnared in the political controversies that can weigh on a politician's public image.
But this first lady is outpacing her recent predecessors: At 76 percent, she ranks higher than Laura Bush did in July 2001 (with a 64 percent favorable rating) and higher than Hillary Rodham Clinton did in May 1993 (at 60 percent).
Pew didn't weigh in on the Michelle O. vs Jackie O. debate.
And Michelle Obama is reaching across party lines: 67 percent of Republican women have a favorable view of her, and that's up 21 points since January.
At 76 percent, she has gained eight points among the general public since January, Pew's polls then and now show. And with 60 percent of all Republicans surveyed voicing a positive opinion, that's up 14 points from January.
Just to show what a little vegetable gardening on the South Lawn, a swing set for the girls and a puppy named "Bo'' can do to erase the memories of a divisive political campaign: In September 2008, a plurality of Republicans - both men and women - voiced an unfavorable opinion of Michelle Obama near the close of the campaign.
"In a word,'' Pew reports, people say this about the first lady: "Classy'' (34 said so), "Nice/nice lady'' (32 said so), "Intelligent'' (24 said so), "Strong'' (22 said so), "Elegant'' (15 said so), "Good" (15 said so.).
"By contrast,'' Pew reports, "Mrs. Bush was often described as Ladylike, Quiet, Loyal, Dignified, and Pleasant, none of which make the list for Mrs. Obama.
"Notably, Michelle Obama is rarely described in ideological terms - only one person out of 765 interviewed describes her as Liberal,'' Pew reports.
"Taken the country by storm,'' Kohut concludes.
(Michelle Obama donned a handmade shawl from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in a stop at the Interior Department, one of many stops in her "thank-you tour'' of the agencies. Photo by Lawrence Jackson / AP)
Comments
I understand the rights anger at Michelle. They like their women like this:
"By contrast,'' Pew reports, "Mrs. Bush was often described as Ladylike, Quiet, Loyal.
Posted by: bill r. | April 23, 2009 12:54 PM
At 76 percent, she has gained eight points among the general public since January, Pew's polls then and now show. And with 60 percent of all Republicans surveyed voicing a positive opinion, that's up 14 points from January.Just to show what a little vegetable gardening on the South Lawn, a swing set for the girls and a puppy named "Bo'' can do to erase the memories of a divisive political campaign: In September 2008, a plurality of Republicans - both men and women - voiced an unfavorable opinion of Michelle Obama near the close of the campaign.
Posted by: Sarah Palin | April 23, 2009 1:18 PM
So that stuff about her being a terrorist black panther wasn't too convincing.
Posted by: rupert | April 23, 2009 1:39 PM
Lots of hard-hitting articles in the Swamp today!
Posted by: DaveB | April 23, 2009 1:51 PM
bill r,
The right-wing lunitic fringe likes stepford wives - bare foot, pregnant and standing in the back ground.
Posted by: LoveBuzz | April 23, 2009 2:11 PM
Every First Lady comes in with a certain distinct 'package' of her own individuality. There is no need to bad mouth former First Lady like Mrs. Bush. Mrs. Obama obviously came from a different background and she carries herself in her own special style and her own special 'individuality.' Show some class yourself "Bill R."
Posted by: eva | April 23, 2009 3:04 PM
Every First Lady comes in with a certain distinct 'package' of her own individuality. There is no need to put former First Lady like Mrs. Bush in such a negative light. Mrs Bush, I think have shown a lot of class---handled every situation with certain poise while her husband has been demonized incessantly by the far left during all those difficult eight years. Mrs. Obama obviously came from a different background and she carries herself in her own special style and her own special 'individuality.' Show some class yourself "Bill R." and the rest of you of the same feather.
Posted by: eva | April 23, 2009 3:10 PM
Show some class yourself "Bill R." and the rest of you of the same feather.
Posted by: eva | April 23, 2009 3:10 PM
So tell me eva....were you out there just as quick defending Michelle from the terrorist fist bump gang?
Posted by: bill r. | April 23, 2009 4:07 PM
Reads like another story from the White House propaganda section.
Posted by: Inky | April 23, 2009 6:14 PM