Obama’s job approval ratings have been a cause for concern and much debate over the past few months but it has shown signs of improvement this month, thanks to his efforts to extend the payroll tax cuts for American workers.
With the President running for a second term to the White House in November next year, according to the three day rolling averages estimated by a Gallup Poll, the ratings have moved to a 47 percent approval to 45 percent disapproval as opposed to a 41 percent approval and 51 percent disapproval at the beginning of the month.
It is for the first time in July that the President’s approval ratings is higher than his disapproval ratings after a bitter dispute with the Republicans to extend a pay cut that amounts to almost $ 1000 a year for most workers. Obama, who was adamant to obtain these tax breaks, was clear that his demands should be met or else come January 1, 2012 – taxes would be increased.
Since the disagreement between the Democrats and Republicans are about how these tax extensions would be paid for, further pressure from Republican constituents and from within the GOP caused party leaders to compromise with Obama, without which the party could lose a lot of votes in the upcoming elections.
The White House has gone to great lengths to express how far $ 1000 can go for a middle class family that is buckling under pressure due to a tough economy. In also building his image for the November elections, it is pretty clear that Obama’s message is that he is with ordinary Americans while Republicans are in favor of the rich.