Clinton or Carter?

If you want to compliment Barack Obama, compare him to Bill Clinton. If you want to insult Obama, compare him to Jimmy Carter. That's the takeaway from our newest national survey which asked respondents who among the last five Presidents Obama most reminded them of.

Overall 41% picked Clinton and 35% said Carter with only 6% saying Ronald Reagan and 2% picking either of the Bushes. But there was a very significant divide in who said Clinton and who said Carter. Among voters who approve of the job Obama is doing 65% said he reminded them of Clinton with Reagan coming second at 9% and Carter third at 7%. With voters who weren't happy with Obama 63% said he was Carter redux to 18% saying Clinton.

Obama's approval rating stands at 47% with 48% of voters disapproving of him. That's a slight improvement from last month when his approval spread was 45/52. His numbers are pretty identical to a month ago with Democrats and Republicans, but he's seen a little improvement with independents from their disapproving of him by a 40/56 margin to their doing so 44/49.

Obama's job performance numbers may be in negative territory but 50% of Americans still say they'd rather have him to 43% who would prefer to have George W. Bush back. The numbers on that question pretty much mirror Obama's approval with partisan voters but independents would take Obama over his predecessor 53/36 even though they don't give him positive marks. The Obama/Bush divide has actually widened since PPP last investigated the question in April and found voters preferring him by only a 48/46 margin.

Full results here