rasmussen poll write commentary last year outline ten factor determine next president among course candidates ring mat state economy ongoing culture war vigorously candidates fight swing state one factor seem influential historical trend elections current president approval rat rasmussen find postwar history suggest president weak approval party pay price next election harry truman 1952 lyndon johnson 1968 gerald ford 1976 jimmy carter 1980 george h.w bush 1992 george w. bush 2008 mediocre-to-poor approval rat oppose party elections defeat incumbents ford carter h.w bush win open-seat race others .when president obama elect november 2008 george w. bush approval rat dismal 19 percent july 1992 george h.w bush campaign bill clinton approval rat fell record low 29 percent.well precedential factor help determine president democrats breathe sigh relief.a new nbc news/wall street journal poll show president obama approval rat 51 percent disapproval rat 46 percent last time president obama majority approval country poll second inauguration january 2013.the number nbc show could beneficial hillary clinton president relative political strength could significant boon hillary clinton whose 2016 candidacy largely focus preserve key aspects democratic policy-making.the poll show clinton despite high negative rat individual candidate could enjoy structural advantage well 2016 contestastoundingly 54 percent independents remember president obama lose independents 2012 approve job doing.that good news democrats rely large turnout independent voters counter donald trump right-wing populism.similarly gallup poll show president approval rat stand 52 percent two point previous week last time president obama approval rat 52 percent accord poll february 2013.this good news democrats clinton well way become nominee make continue obama legacy staple campaign resound well democrats apparently independents.featured image via draw angerer/getty image president obama approval rat hit three year high matter