Trump's Popularity Hits New High

Jason Hopkins | December 08, 2016 9:30 AM

According to a newly released Bloomberg poll, president-elect Trump is experiencing a dramatic rise in popularity.

The Bloomberg politics poll that was released Wednesday shows 50 percent of respondents having a favorable view of the New York Republican. Forty three percent of respondents view him negatively. The 50/43 split puts Trump at a net positive and marks the first time he’s hit the 50 percent favorability threshold in two years.

Critics are hitting him for only coming in at 50 percent one month after his election victory. Almost all president-elects experience a “honeymoon” period post-election. President George W. Bush had a favorability rating of 59 percent this time in early 2001. President Obama had a rating of 68 percent.

However, what’s impressive is the surge of support for Trump in such a short amount of time. Yes, his current favorability is lower than most president-elects before him, but he started in a much lower place. In May, a Quinnipiac survey showed Trump with a 20 percent positive rating and 69 percent negative – putting him 49 points underwater. The Real Clear Politics average still has him at negative 14 percent (with all recent polls averaged). The newly release Bloomberg poll reveals a sharp change in America's view of him.

In fact, GOP pollster Frank Luntz pointed out to Neil Cavuto Wednesday that no president-elect has experienced such a surge in support since the 40^th president of the United States.

“I went back and looked at the change from the moment of election until 30 days from that, and Donald Trump has had the biggest surge in polling in terms of popularity of anyone who has been elected president since Ronald Reagan, including Ronald Reagan," Luntz states. "It really is significant...that 33 percent to 50 percent is remarkable."

Trump is apparently dusting his shoulders off after one of the most bruising presidential campaigns in modern history. Both Trump and Clinton had historic unpopularity ratings. After securing victory and a string of impressive cabinet choices, the president-elect is improving his image with Americans dramatically.