In Era of Trump, Obama and Bush Enjoy Rising Popularity

WASHINGTON — For many Americans, the last two presidents are looking better and better.Ratings for George W. Bush and Barack Obama have risen noticeably from the pre-Trump era, according to a new Gallup poll.The 43rd and 44th presidents both registered around 60 percent favorability. In contrast, Gallup reported a 40 percent favorability rating for President Donald Trump at the time of his inauguration in January and from polling conducted this month.Bush was one of the most unpopular presidents of all time when he left office in January 2009, with a rating of 35 percent and the nation suffering a fiscal crisis. His image has steadily improved since then. In the past year alone, the number rose 7 percentage points to a post-presidential high of 59 percent, with improvements across all political and demographic groups other than young adults.  Continue reading...