Lovefest: Michelle Continues to Score Rave Poll Reviews

POTUS advisor David Axelrod joked about the results of a new USA Today poll tracking the approval ratings of both President Obama and Michelle, as we approach the first 100 days of the Obama presidency: "Fortunately, she's agreed not to run against us."

79% of respondents, polled this past Monday and Tuesday, say they approve of the way she is handling the job of first lady. Just 8% dispprove.

I'm not surprised to see President Obama's 64% approval, vs 28% disapprove breakdown on party lines. What's wonderful for Michelle is that 64% of Republicans approve of her handling of the First Lady job. Because of the comparatively small sample of 1,051 adults, poll has a margin of error of  +/-3.

Update: per the Christian Science Monitor, Michelle's support among Republican women has risen 21 points since Jan. 2009.

Michelle isn't alone in her limelight. Laura Bush had the support of 85% of Americans, in 2005 when her husband was sworn in for a second term. And Hillary Clinton enjoyed a second term rating of 80%.

Do we have "approval inflation", similar to "grade inflation" in these poll numbers? Perhaps we've not as tough in our critiques, as we were in previous decades.

In any case, Michelle is flying high, winning the hearts and minds of Americans in most states. See last week's detailed, in-depth story on Michelle and the Marist Poll. A