From Talking Points Memo:
Just two months ago, President Obama was reeling from his party’s massive defeat in the midterm elections. He faced a number of critical legislative decisions, his approval numbers plummeted to the lowest levels of his presidency, and pundits began speculating whether he could survive a primary challenge in 2012.
Yet now, it seems like everything is coming up in Obama’s favor. Buoyed by a surging approval rating, an improved economic outlook, and some popular legislative achievements, Obama is suddenly back on top.
Obama closed out 2010 by signing a raft of popular bills — including a compromise to extend tax breaks for all Americans and a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Soon after, his record low approval numbers quickly changed course. In late December, Gallup pegged his approval rating at 50%, the first time he’d hit that threshold since May 2010.
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