A new public opinion
poll gives U.S. President Barack Obama his highest approval rating since the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden in May of 2011.
The poll, released Friday, says Obama's approval rating stands at 57 percent. A similar survey conducted shortly before last month's presidential election put the president's approval rating at 52 percent.
The survey results on Obama's overall performance were mixed. When asked what kind of president did they think Obama had been so far, 37 percent of respondents said outstanding or above average, while 36 percent said below average or poor.
The president's marks on the U.S. economy were also mixed: 54 percent of those interviewed said they think the president will able to improve the economy during his second term; 42 percent say it is unlikely that he will be able to do so.
A majority of those surveyed were less optimistic about the performance of Congress. A total of 74 percent had a negative opinion about the work done by the Senate and House of Representatives.
The poll was conducted by the Associated Press and the GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications firm between November 29 and December 3.