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Poll: Obama Approval Ratings Up

Amid growing optimism over the economy.

A new New York Times/CBS poll shows that Obama’s approval ratings have reached 50 percent amid voters’ growing optimism over the economy. Conducted between Feb. 8 and 13, the survey reveals that the percentage of people who believe the economy is improving is double the percentage of those who think it’s getting worse. Furthermore, the results show that the president currently holds an edge over all four Republican presidential candidates, earning approval from 48 percent of voters in comparison to Mitt Romney’s 42 percent, and 49 percent to Rick Santorum’s 41 percent. Last month, Romney and Obama were tied at 45 percent.