President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address Scores High

Pollster John Zogby joins the Washington Whispers team to regularly update our new Obamameter. Each week, Zogby will size up President Barack Obama on a specific issue, his popularity, or job performance and, based on Zogby's polling results and expert analysis, come up with a rating of between 1 and 100. In this week's Obamameter, Zogby analyzes the new president's inaugural address and gives it a 91 out of 100.

"Obama starts his presidency right where he needs to be. He has told Americans what they already know and intuit—this recession is going to be a long slog and will require much sacrifice. And he has raised expectations to a reasonable level that does not set him up for failure. Questions are raised about a few nominees for his Cabinet, but nothing too serious to be a distraction. His tee shot was down the middle and long, and his approach has gotten him to either a birdie or par. Having delivered an address worthy of Lincoln, FDR, and JFK—and without having vomited on Michelle's dress at the inauguration—I raise him to a 91 this week."

John Zogby is president and CEO of Zogby International, a public opinion, research, and business solutions firm with experience working in more than 70 countries. Founded and led by Zogby since 1984, Zogby International specializes in telephone, Internet, and face-to-face survey research and analysis for corporate, political, nonprofit, and governmental clients. The firm is headquartered in Utica, N.Y. John Zogby also is the author of The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream, published by Random House.