Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Favorable First Lady

While political fights continue to divide Americans on most issues and politicians, one person in Washington continues to be broadly popular. Fully 69% of the public has a favorable view of First Lady Michelle Obama. Just 21% have an unfavorable view of the president’s wife. Three-quarters of women (75%) view Michelle Obama favorably as do 67% of independents. Even among Republicans, about as many hold a favorable view (44%) of Michelle Obama as an unfavorable opinion (43%). When Michelle Obama’s favorable rating was first tested in May 2008, just as many then as now had an unfavorable opinion of her (21%), while 43% viewed her favorably and nearly a third (32%) could not rate her. Since President’ Obama’s inauguration, however, she has been overwhelmingly popular with the public. Read More