President Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign claimed in a Thursday email that his approval rating is “better than Obama” saw at the same stage of his presidency — a contention supported by some polling, but dubious in aggregate.
“President Trump has a stronger approval rating (48%) today than President Barack Obama (44%) did in 2010 on this same day. But we bet you won’t hear it from the media,” the email blast to supporters said.
The Trump campaign did not cite its sources, but the Feb. 8 polling figure for Trump appears to come from a Rasmussen poll finding 48 percent approval and 50 percent disapproval.
Obama’s approval rating in a Rasmussen poll released on Feb. 8, 2010, was 46 percent, with 54 percent disapproval.
The Trump campaign’s media office did not immediately clarify the source of the polling data it cited.
Although Trump’s rating is indeed higher in the Rasmussen poll, Real Clear Politics polling averages show Trump lagging behind Obama.
On Thursday the president had a 42.3 percent average approval rating, according to Real Clear Politics, versus 47.9 percent approval for Obama on Feb. 8, 2010.
The Trump campaign email blast requested that supporters rate the president “Great,” “Good,” “Okay,” or “Other” as part of an informal monthly survey.
“With your help, we’ll cut through the noise and make sure the media KNOWS the American people are fully behind President Trump,” the email said.