Obama rated ‘ best’ US President in new Pew survey
■ While millennials liked Obama, Generation X favoured Ronald Reagan
Washington, July 12: Former US President Barack Obama may no longer be in the Oval Office, but a majority ( 44 per cent) of Americans believe he was the best President in their lifetime, according to a Pew Research Center survey which puts current President Donald Trump at the fourth position.
Obama, who served two Not yet halfway through his first term, 19 per cent believed Trump had done the best or second- best job as President, the survey noted. The percentage, however, is comparable to Obama’s during his first term in 2011, with only 20 per cent viewing him as one of the best presidents, it said.
The survey was conducted between June 5- 12 among 2,002 adults and asked people in an openended format which president
had done the best job in their lifetimes. The analysis is based on their first and second choices.
Obama was rated the best President with 31 per cent and second choice by 13 per cent, giving him a grand total of 44 per cent.
A total of 10 per cent of respondents said Trump was the best President of their lifetime, followed by 9 per cent of people who said he was their runner- up.
The survey found that while millennials strongly favoured Obama — a whopping 62 per cent — Generation X, baby boomers and the silent generation favoured Reagan.
Partisan differences were eminently tied to a person’s answer.
Obama was the first or second pick of 71 per cent of Democrats and only 13 per cent of Republicans.
Reagan was the most popular with Generation X and baby boomers, with 45 per cent and 42 per cent respectively.