Poll Tracker

Both polls showed overwhelming support for Obama among Democrats: 92 percent in Gallup's poll and 90 percent in Quinnipiac's. The higher overall approval rating in the Gallup poll is attributable to a stronger support score among independent voters. Gallup's survey showed Obama with a 64 percent positive-27 percent negative rating from independents, while the Quinnipiac result was a somewhat more modest 53-33 spread.

Most Republican respondents in both polls dissented to Obama's handling of the presidency. Yet despite the contentions of Republican leaders and activists that Obama has conducted his policy-making in a highly partisan manner so far, Republicans are not nearly as strongly opposed to Obama as Democrats are strongly supportive. Quinnipiac showed 26 percent of Republicans approved of Obama as president while 59 percent disapproved. The disapproval number among Republicans in the Gallup poll was a somewhat higher 66 percent, though the approval number (28 percent) also is slightly higher.

As also highlighted in a New York Times-CBS News poll released Tuesday, Obama -- the nation's first African-American president -- is lifted by nearly universal support among black respondents. His approval-disapproval split among blacks was 96-1 in Gallup and 93-1 in Quinnipiac.

But both polls also show support for Obama is solidly in plus territory among whites. According to Gallup, 57 percent of whites approved and 36 percent disapproved of Obama's job performance. Quinnipiac's poll produced a similar 53-35 split.

Both polls also showed Obama receiving strong approval ratings across socio-economic lines, from low-income to high-income.

The Gallup poll included a graphic that shows how steady support has been for Obama. The weekly average approval rating for Obama in Gallup's tracking poll was at 67 percent just after he entered the White House and at 65 percent as the 100-day mark approached. At no time over the more than three month period did the average weekly rating slip lower than 61 percent.