The pollsters at Gallup, who have lots of historical data to compare things to, report today that "Barack Obama averaged 46.7% job approval in his ninth quarter in office, slightly above his seventh- and eighth-quarter averages but still the third lowest of his presidency."

And, Gallup adds:

It will be important to watch, Gallup says, the president's approval rating in his current (10th) quarter in office:

The Nine Presidents' Ninth-Quarter Ratings:

Average approval ratings in each president's ninth quarter in office

Chronologically:

-- Dwight Eisenhower, 70 percent.

-- John F. Kennedy, 67.7 percent.

-- Richard Nixon, 49.3 percent.

-- Jimmy Carter, 41.2 percent.

-- Ronald Reagan, 38.8 percent.

-- George H.W. Bush, 82.7 percent.

-- Bill Clinton, 45.7 percent.

-- George W. Bush, 63.3 percent.

-- Barack Obama, 46.7 percent.

"Top to bottom":

-- George H.W. Bush, 82.7 percent.

-- Dwight Eisenhower, 70 percent.

-- John F. Kennedy, 67.7 percent.

-- George W. Bush, 63.3 percent.

-- Richard Nixon, 49.3 percent.

-- Barack Obama, 46.7 percent.

-- Bill Clinton, 45.7 percent.

-- Jimmy Carter, 41.2 percent.

-- Ronald Reagan, 38.8 percent.

Source: Gallup.com

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