Obama’s overall approval rating is up to 50 percent, according to a new poll. | REUTERS Obama's female support increases

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found President Barack Obama has gained overall support — with marked gains among key groups of female voters.

Obama has gained support among white and suburban women. In both groups, the president is up to a 45 percent approval rating from 40 percent in December. Overall among women, approval for the president rose to 54 percent versus 40 percent disapproval. In December, both his overall approval and disapproval among women were 47 percent.


The increase comes as the battle over the president’s contraceptive mandate has reached a fever pitch but also corresponds to growing confidence in the economy. Obama’s overall approval rating is up to 50 percent, the poll finds, and in a matchup against his lead Republican rival Mitt Romney, the survey finds that Obama would win 50 percent to 44 percent.

The poll also found overall support for the president’s contraception coverage mandate, with 53 percent of those surveyed approving of the federal requirement that employers cover birth control as part of a package for preventive services for women. One third opposed it.

Support split — 43 pro and 43 against — when respondents were told specifically that the coverage includes the “morning after pill.” And it dropped to 38 percent when respondents were asked about how they felt about the same requirement for religious employers, even if insurance companies picked up the costs.

The economy and the deficit remain by far the top concern among adults surveyed. Health care placed third, with energy and gas prices fourth. Gas prices have not been in the top five until recently. For Republican primary voters, energy beat out health as the fourth- and fifth-ranking issues, respectively.

Pollsters Bill McInturff and Peter Hart interviewed 800 adults across the country, and the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3½ percentage points.