The Hill News

President Obama saw his approval rating rise above 50 percent in two major polls released this week, the highest it has been in months.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll released Tuesday shows that 54 percent approve of the president's job performance, matching his highest rating since April 2010 after he signed the healthcare reform bill into law. Fifty-three percent said they approve of Obama in a C! NN/Opinion Research poll put out Monday.

{mosads}The ABC figure represents a five-point jump from December and an eight-point rise from his lowest-ever rating in September, just before Democrats took massive losses in the midterm elections.

The trend could signal that Obama is beginning to regain his political footing heading into a year when his Republican rivals plan to gear up for the 2012 elections, when the president will again be on the ballot.

His jump could be in part due to his response to the Arizona shooting spree, for which he received high marks from the public.

But the poll shows that Obama still faces ! political risks on key issues sure to be debated over the next! 12 mont hs: 51 and 52 percent still disapprove of the way the president is handling the economy and healthcare respectively.

His perception on the issues when compared to Republicans is mixed. Forty-six percent trust Obama over Republicans on the economy, which the public rates as the top issue, but GOP is tied with the president on healthcare at 42 percent.

The healthcare figures are likely to be put to the test this week, when House Republicans have scheduled a vote on a contentious measure that would repeal the healthcare law.

Obama has yet to recovery in every poll. A USA Today/Gallup survey released Tuesday shows Obama's approval rating at only 47 percent.