George W- Bush More Popular Than Obama, According to Gallup Poll

President George W. Bush's popularity exceeds President Barack Obama's, according to two Gallup polls released Tuesday.

In one poll, Bush is viewed favorably by 49 percent of Americans and viewed unfavorably by 46 percent of Americans.

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In comparison, according to Gallup's Daily Job Approval Poll, Obama is viewed favorably by 47 percent and viewed unfavorably by 44 percent of Americans.

This is the first time since 2005 that more Americans have a more positive than negative view of the 43rd president, according to the Gallup poll.

Since leaving office in 2008, Bush has stayed out of the spotlight, with the exception of leading three-day mountain bike rides with wounded veterans on Memorial Day and  opening a presidential library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas in April.

At the same time, Obama has faced a series of scandals in recent months that have taken a toll on how much Americans trust him, according to a recent Wall Street Journal poll.

The Bush Gallup poll was very partisan, with 84 percent of Republicans having a favorable view of Bush, compared to 46 percent of independents, and 26 percent of Democrats.

The Obama Gallup poll did not include ratings among political parties.

The Gallup poll was conducted June 1-4 and was based on telephone calls to 1,529 adults, aged 18 and older, across the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In their assessment of the poll, Gallup notes that when Bush left office in January 2009, he had a favorability rating of 40 percent. Meanwhile, 59 percent of Americans had an unfavorable view of him.

In the months that followed, Bush's favorable numbers sank further, dropping to 35 percent favorable and 63 percent unfavorable.

Throughout 2010, however, Bush's favorability improved somewhat, remaining in the mid-40 percent range, Gallup reported.

Bush's all-time low favorability rating was in April 2008, at 32 percent, as the economy fell into a recession and gas prices hit record highs.

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The most admired recent U.S. president is Ronald Reagan, who, according to a 2001 Gallup poll, saw a 74 percent favorability rating.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter came in second, both receiving a 69 percent favorable rating and a 27 percent unfavorable rating in recent Gallup polls.