Poll: 80 Percent Of Americans Approve Of Gates Staying As Defense Secretary

December 4, 2008 10:46 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A USA Today/Gallup poll on Wednesday said nearly 80 percent of Americans approve of President-elect Barack Obama's handling of the transition, and that about the same number support his decision to keep Defense Sec. Robert Gates at the Pentagon.

Sixty-nine percent approve of the choice of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) as secretary of State while 25 percent disapprove. The transition taken as a whole, 78 percent of Americans approve of how the president-elect has so far handled his entry into the White House.

Obama has held a series of press conferences announcing members of his Cabinet. He focused on his economic team and then national security team, gaining praise from Democrats as well as Republicans for his choice for key posts.

The survey also found that Americans trust Obama more than President George W. Bush when it comes to the economy, by a margin of more than three to one. By 58 percent to 33 percent, they favor Obama's proposal for an economic stimulus package.