President Obama's Approval Ratings Up Post-SOTU (Photo Gallery)

President Barack Obama hugs Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., on the floor of the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., before delivering the State of the Union address, Jan. 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows President Barack Obama's approval numbers are on an upswing. For the first time in six months, the presidents' approval rating (48 percent) exceeds his disapproval rating (46 percent). The president's numbers have been on the rise since the economic picture started to brighten a bit late last year. In December, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found that while Obama still had a low approval rating on his handling of jobs and the economy, his overall approval rating numbers had improved with certain segments of the population, including young adults, seniors and independent voters. The narrowing of the approval and disapproval ratings can be seen in the latest Gallup Daily Poll, but Gallup still has the president's disapproval rating high at 49 percent, compared to a 43 percent approval.

President Barack Obama greets Members of Congress as he arrives in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to deliver the State of the Union address, Jan. 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)First Lady Michelle Obama and guests seated in the First Lady's box applaud as President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 2012. Joining Mrs. Obama in the front row, from left, are: Bryan Ritterby; Admiral William McRaven; Jackie Bray; Cpt. Mark Kelly; Dr. Jill Biden; and Sgt. Ashleigh Berg. Pictured in the back row, from left, are: Juan Jose Redín; Debbie Bosanek; Laurene Powell Jobs; Alicia Boler-Davis; and Colonel Ginger Wallace. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)In a phone call from the U.S. Capitol immediately after the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama informs John Buchanan that his daughter Jessica was rescued by U.S. Special Operations Forces in Somalia, Jan. 24, 2012. First Lady Michelle Obama stands behind the President. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)