When President Obama makes his State of the Union address Tuesday, he will face an American public who sees his image as more likeable, but his leadership as fair, according to a new AP-GfK poll.
The survey found that one-third of Americans consider Obama an above-average president, while 58 percent find him likeable. People are largely pessimistic about the future of the country's direction, particularly on issues of unemployment and Obama's handling of the federal government. Seventy percent of Americans think the unemployment rate will rise or stay the same.
Overall, Obama's approval rating has remained steady, with 45 percent approving him and 53 percent saying they don't, according to the poll conducted Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 with 1,060 adults. Also, only 14 percent of Americans approve of how Congress is handling its job.
The Associated Press reports: 
The ranks of those who believe he’s been outstanding or above average have edged down 6 points since just after Obama’s re-election in November 2012, reflecting slippage in how he’s viewed by Democrats, particularly liberals.

And while Obama’s likability numbers have recovered somewhat, doubts about his decisiveness and honesty persist. More than half of Americans wouldn’t describe him as decisive or honest. Fifty-two percent don’t find him particularly inspiring.

Read full story here.
BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. 
Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege.

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)