President Obama’s approval rating has soared to its highest level since his first few months in office, and the improving economy may have a lot to do with it.
A new report from the Census Bureau today found the median American income grew faster in 2015 than at any point on record.
The nonpartisan report also found:
- Real median household income increased by 5.2 percent.
- The number of Americans in poverty fell by 3.5 million last year.
- The number of uninsured Americans fell by 4 million.
- Incomes rose for every income segment in the country.
The report is welcome news for Hillary Clinton and her campaign, while the opposite of the narrative that Donald Trump has been making. Trump is now insisting the government rigs the numbers.
White House officials celebrated the news that was seemingly lost in the middle of a campaign day.
I usually try to be restrained, but this is unambiguously the best Income, Poverty & Health Insurance report ever. https://t.co/YdN4HgtIvR
— Jason Furman (@CEAChair) September 13, 2016
President Obama happily shared the news while campaigning for Hillary Clinton in Philadelphia.
“More Americans are working, more have health insurance,” said Obama. “Incomes are rising. Poverty is falling. And gas is $2 a gallon,” he said, after someone in the crowd shouted out the current gas price. “Thank you for reminding me that. I didn’t even remember. Thanks, Obama!”
The better economic news hit at the same time Obama’s approval rating has soared to 58 percent. That is the highest number since his first few months in office, and 15 points higher than it was before the 2014 midterm elections.
To put this in perspective, President George W. Bush’s approval rating, at this same time in 2008, was 25 percent. The Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, was rarely seen with him.
The Washington Post poll finds that an increase in Obama’s approval numbers directly correlates into an increase in Clinton’s support. Thus why you will see a lot of Barack Obama in the weeks ahead.
If this were a “normal” election year you would say today’s economic report favors Democrats. But Donald Trump has managed to make this anything but a normal year.