The numbers themselves aren’t really surprising, but the new USA Today poll just underlines the point:

When he was inaugurated in January, Obama scored a job rating of 64% approve-25% disapprove in the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll — a net positive rating by a formidable 39 percentage points.
As the year comes to a close, he’s still in positive territory, but not by much. The latest survey, taken Friday through Sunday, puts the president’s approval at 49%-46%. That is Obama’s narrowest margin of the year, with his approval matching his low point in early October and his disapproval matching his high point later that month.
In comparison to the approval ratings for modern elected presidents in December of their first year in office, Obama’s standing is the worst, though he’s close to Ronald Reagan. In December 1981, Reagan’s approval rating was also 49%, though his disapproval rating was a bit lower, 41%.

So that’s a B+, right?

Well, I’m sure passing a health-care bill without a public option or failing to pass a bill entirely will help these numbers . . .