Gallup: Obama's approval ratings wider spread than Clinton's

President Barack Obama has replaced former President Bill Clinton as having the widest gap in approval ratings between Democrats and Republicans after his first year in office, according to a poll released today from Gallup.

Eighty-eight percent of Democrats approve of Obama's leadership, while 23 percent of Republicans agree -- the greatest approval spread between the two parties since Clinton's 52-point difference after his first year, Gallup reported.

Gallup attributes Obama's "extraordinary level of polarization" to "a combination of declining support from Republicans coupled with high and sustained approval from Democrats. In fact, his 88% average approval rating from his own party's supporters is exceeded only by George W. Bush's 92% during Bush's first year in office."

The polling firm warned that "if the current level of polarization persists through the end of his term, Obama would exceed Bush as the president with the most polarized approval ratings."

The difference in Obama's approval rating amounts to an overall approval rating of 57 percent, Gallup said.