Pew survey finds

Obama ‘best’ president of recent years, Pew survey finds

By REBECCA MORIN

President Barack Obama may no longer be in the Oval Office, but many Americans believe he did “the best job” of any president in their lifetime, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

Forty-four percent of Americans said Obama, who served two terms, is the best or second-best president of their lifetime. Bill Clinton came in next in Pew’s survey with 33 percent, followed by Ronald Reagan with 32 percent.

Only 19 percent of those surveyed said President Donald Trump has done the best or second-best job. That percentage, however, is comparable to Obama’s during his first term in 2011, with only 20 percent viewing him as one of the best presidents.

Trump in May touted that his administration had had “the most successful first 17 month Administration in U.S. history.”

When broken down by generations, Obama was the most popular with younger voters.

More than half — 62 percent — of millennials said Obama had done one of the best jobs as commander in chief. That was followed by 41 percent of the Gen Xers and 32 percent of baby boomers.

Reagan was the most popular with Gen Xers and baby boomers, with 45 percent and 42 percent, respectively, saying that he was one of the best presidents of their lifetime. Only 13 percent of millennials put Reagan first or second.

There is a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. Interviews with 2,002 adults were conducted from June 5 to 12 by either landline and cellphone. The survey would, of course, be tilted against presidents of the more distant past, such as Dwight Eisenhower, Harry Truman or Franklin D. Roosevelt, all of whom drew minimal support.