First lady Michelle Obama more popular than President Barack Obama as they leave the White House
With only a few days to go until he leaves the White House, President Barack Obama's final favorability ratings were released by Gallup on Monday.
The polling outfit found 58 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the president as he leaves office, but two of the people he's been closest to over these past eight years in the White House beat him.
Vice President Joe Biden had a 61 percent favorability, sneaking in just a tiny bit above the man who surprised him by honoring him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom last week.
SEE MORE: President Obama surprises Joe Biden with Presidential Medal of Freedom
But it's first lady Michelle Obama who topped them all, with a 68 percent favorability rating. She came in a few points behind Laura Bush, who left the East Wing of the White House with a 76 percent favorability rating in 2009, but ranked significantly higher than Hillary Clinton, who came in at a 56 percent favorability.
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President Obama leaves office with a relatively high rating compared to his predecessors. Bill Clinton's favorable came in slightly lower, at 57 percent, while George H.W. Bush a few points higher, at 62 percent.
Only George W. Bush saw significantly lower numbers. Only 40 percent of Americans had a favorable rating of the 43rd president as he left office.
Obama's highest favorables came and went before he even moved into the White House, when 78 percent saw him favorably in early January 2009. His lowest point came shortly after the 2014 midterm elections -- only 42 percent. He averaged a 53 percent favorable rating across his two terms.
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But when it comes to the late surge, none other than Joe Biden enjoyed the greatest numbers. While he saw favorable numbers at or below 50 percent for most of the last eight years, the vice president's favorable rating shot up since the November election. He leaves office more favored than Dick Cheney, who ended up at 37 percent, or Al Gore, who left office with a 56 percent favorable rating.
