Washington, Jan 23(ANI): A new poll has indicated that US First Lady Michelle Obama has very strong approval ratings and high cross-party appeal, which is completely in contrast to her husband President Barack Obama’s ratings.

According to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press poll, 71 percent of respondents had a favorable view of Michelle, with 16 percent expressing an unfavorable view.

Michelle’s ratings top those of her two immediate predecessors, Laura Bush-who had a 64 percent rating and Hillary Clinton- who had a 60 percent approval rating, in their first years.

The poll further found that the first lady had an all-time high favorability rating of 76 percent in April and has never dipped below 68 percent, Politico reports.

The numbers tell a different story when compared to the President, who has seen a 14-point decline from a high of 79 percent to 65 percent between January and November 2009.

His favorability among Republicans has dipped 25 percent. Michelle is also liked by 50 percent of Republicans compared with 34 percent for her husband.

In her first year in the East Wing, Obama became a pop culture fixture, gracing the covers of Vogue, People, Oprah and appearing on “Sesame Street” and “The Jay Leno Show”, while pushing for health care reform, community service and healthy living.

She will kick off her first administrative initiative in February, where she plans to combat childhood obesity. (ANI)