ready to flex their muscle when they take the majority in the house of representatives, democrats return to a reduced majority in the senate. and republicans promise to cut spending and roll back the health care law and limit government regulations. >> julie: president's approval rating taking a slight hit before the new year. the latest gallup tracking poll, putting it at 47%. not good, but, still better than what presidents reagan and clinton had, at similar points in their terms, having an opposing party in the legislative branch may actually have helped both of those leaders rebound and so can president obama expect the same with the republicans taking over the house in 2011? turning us now, is roll call staff writer david drucker. so, obama as we said, is standing better than two recent presidents who went on to win re-election and throw out the numbers again and tell us if the president can pull off the same as bill clinton and reagan with clinton having a 40% approval rating and reagan having just 43%.