President Obama is reaping political benefits from the country’s improved economic picture, according to a poll published on Wednesday by the Associated Press. The AP/GfK poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction, and that most independents now approve of the way Obama is addressing the post-recession period.
But still-struggling Americans are fretting over rising gasoline prices. And just weeks before the summer travel season begins, the Associated Press-GfK survey finds that pump prices are rising in importance and most people are unhappy with how the Democratic president has handled the issue.
Thirty percent of respondents describe the economy as good, a 15-point increase since December and the highest level since the AP-GfK poll first asked the question in 2009. Roughly the same share say the economy got better in the past month, while 18 percent said it got worse, the most positive read in over a year.
Looking ahead, four in 10 said they expect the economy to get better in the next year and about a third said they think the number of unemployed will decrease.
AP published other results from the poll on Wednesday morning. Those showed Obama topping 50 percent support when matched against each of the four GOP candidates running for the nomination.
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