Obama's numbers looking better in N.C.

President Barack Obama's number are better in North Carolina, Public Policy Polling says, with more approving of his performance than disapproving. His numbers have been up elsewhere in the nation, but just now have arrived here, the company said in a news release today. It all means that Obama is in a good position for the next presidential campaign in this state even as Civitas' poll (see previous blogpost) finds that Gov. Bev Perdue, who was elected in 2008 with help from Obama's coattails, isn't doing so well among potential Democratic primary voters in 2012.

"For the first time since December of 2009 PPP finds more voters in the state approving than disapproving of him, at a 49/47 spread.

"Increased optimism about the economy in the state is helping Obama's revival. Last March a majority of voters in the state at 51% felt their personal economic situation had gotten worse since Obama took office compared to only 10% who thought it had improved. Now the portion feeling things have gotten worse for them is down to 47% and the one thinking things have gotten better is up to 16% with 37% expressing the sentiment that there's been no change for them since the President was inaugurated."

PPP also said, "Obama's gain in popularity has been fueled by voters in the center. A year ago his approval rating with moderates was 59%. Now it's up to 69%. This improvement in his standing, along with the lukewarm reaction of voters in the state to the leading 2012 Republican Presidential contenders, has him in position to repeat his surprise North Carolina victory from 2008. He leads the four most likely GOP contenders at this point by margins ranging anywhere from 3 to 9 points in this month's poll."

For more, see http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/01/obama-on-positive-turf-in-north.html