But as David points out our accelerated news cycle and cult of personality makes such things fleeting and the public's approval can be fickle.

The first 100 days of an Obama Administration (God, that sounds good to say) are going to be critical. What initiatives is he going to focus on pushing through first?

If he can reign in the instincts of the party to go overboard and produce two or three pieces of legislation that show at least some bi-partisan support and that look to be broadly effective; if he can avoid any early gaffes of overreaching (remember the Clinton gays in the military missteps?) then he buys himself goodwill and margin for error going forward with bolder strokes.