Obama as unpopular as George W. Bush in poll

A new survey suggests President Obama is just as unpopular as former President George W. Bush.

Just over half of those polled, 51 percent, have an unfavorable view of Obama, and 51 percent currently feel the same about Bush, according to a CNN/ORC International poll released Thursday. 

{mosads}Forty-seven percent of the public has a favorable rating of Obama, which CNN said is a new low for him, and roughly identical to Bush’s favorable rating of 46 percent.

Days before leaving the White House in January 2009, Bush had a favorable rating of 35 percent. After the 2008 election, Obama had a 78 percent favorable rating.

Bush and Obama now have lower favorable ratings than their two predecessors. Nearly 70 percent have a positive view of former President Bill Clinton and nearly 60 percent have a favorable view of former President George H.W. Bush. 

Hillary Clinton’s favorable ratings have slipped since she left the State Department in 2013. After her departure, 67 percent viewed her positively. Fifty-five percent view her that way now, the new poll found. 

Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, joins her dad in having a higher rating than her mom, with nearly 60 percent holding a favorable view.

The poll surveyed 1,003 adults between May 29 and June 1 and has a 3 percentage point margin of error.