Poll Tracker

Gallup's latest approval-to-disapproval ration based on July 10-12 polling was 58 percent to 36 percent, but the pollster provided a further analysis today looking behind those numbers and found a big divide in the reasons behind Americans' opinions.

The biggest factor in the approval numbers was the public's view of Obama's "leadership." Fifty-four center said they saw him favorably because of that factor, but of those who disapprove of Obama's performance, 65 percent attributed their opinion to their view of his leadership. Obama's stand on issues accounted for 17 percent of those who approve his performance compared to 24 percent who cited this for their disapproval. Fifteen percent liked Obama for his personal characteristics, while 24 percent of those in the disapproval camp did not.

Among those who liked Obama for his leadership, the biggest group (31 percent) said he was doing a good job under difficult circumstances. The biggest group among those who disapprove of Obama's leadership (24 percent) say it is because he is spending too much.