Gallup: 70 Percent View Obama Favorably

A robust 70 percent of voters say they favorably view President-elect Barack Obama, just less than a week after the Illinois Senator bested Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the presidential election.

A Gallup poll conducted November 6-8 found that a large majority views the incoming president favorably, though Obama’s successor, President George W. Bush, maintains a 27 percent approval rating. A quarter of those who were surveyed said they viewed the president-elect unfavorably. Obama and Bush meet together at the White House at 2 p.m. this afternoon.

Similar majorities expressed confidence in Obama’s ability to be a good president. 65 percent of those surveyed said they were confident in Obama’s ability to lead, while 28 percent of those surveyed said they were less confident.

The poll has a three percent margin of error.

–Michael O’Brien