Clinton’s Approval Rating Sets Record in Pre-Inaugural Poll

WASHINGTON — Public approval of President Clinton’s job performance hit a record high last week in a pre-inaugural poll that also found Congress with an improved image despite the overwhelming unpopularity of House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

Clinton’s 59% job approval rating in the new Pew Research Center survey eclipsed the 56% score he registered just after taking office in January 1993. Thirty-one percent of those surveyed in the new poll disapproved of the way Clinton is handling his job as president, with the rest declining to offer an opinion.

Democrats overwhelmingly embraced their reelected president: 86% approved of his job performance.

Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said they had a favorable view of Congress, up from 45% in a Pew survey last June. Forty percent of those surveyed last Thursday through Sunday said they viewed Congress unfavorably, down 10 points from June.

Gingrich was viewed favorably by just 28% of respondents. Sixty-five percent said they had an unfavorable view of Gingrich, 5% had no opinion and 2% said they had never heard of him.