The number of Americans who approve of President Barack Obama's
job in office is nearly the same as the number who voted for him in the election
one year ago.
 
In
a CNN survey released Tuesday, 54% of respondents said they approve of how the
president is handling his duties. Last year, 53% of Americans voted for
Obama.

CNN polling director Keating Holland said the results of the survey have changed as far as ideological differences. "His approval rating among liberals is 7 points higher than the number of liberals who voted for him," he said. "But among conservatives, the number who like Obama today is down 10 points compared to his share of the vote among that group in 2008."

In other results, six in 10 respondents said that Obama inspires confidence in people, and the same number said he is a strong leader who is honest and trustworthy. Nearly two thirds said he is an atypical politician, but only 45% said he has given a clear plan as to solving the country's major problems.

The survey also bodes well for Joe Biden, who is seen by respondents as a better vice president than Dick Cheney by a margin of 24 points.