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Will a Falling National Unemployment Rate Be Enough To Give Obama a Second Term?

Obama’s Approval Rating Rises as Unemployment Rate Drops

Barack Obama promotional material
“It’s the economy, stupid.”

This phrase was uttered by the Democrats time and time again during the run-up to the 1992 Presidential election.

George H.W. Bush was considered a lock to win a second term as President when the first Gulf War ended. The very next year, Bill Clinton took the White House, winning by a substantial margin.

Despite his sky-high approval rating in 1991, George H.W. Bush was ultimately done in by a weak economy.

Many issues weigh heavy on the minds of average voters, but in the end, it’s always the economy that rises to the top.

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A few short months ago, things weren’t looking very good for President Obama and his 2012 re-election campaign.

The national unemployment rate seemed frozen at 9.1% and Obama’s approval rating was stuck in the low 40s. From a historical perspective, the chances of Obama winning a second term weren’t very high, given his very low approval rating.

In November, the national unemployment rate dropped from 9% down to 8.6%. In December, more improvement - 8.5%.

As the national unemployment rate drops, Obama’s approval rating increases. After dropping as low as 38% in both late August and mid-October, Obama’s approval rating now sits at 46%.

The economy has now added jobs for six months in a row, and the national unemployment rate is the lowest its been since March of 2009.

The question is - will this be enough to put Obama over the top in November?

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