> <
> http://www.gallup.com/poll/112804/Obama-National-Security-Picks-Get-High-Marks.aspx
> >
>
> Sixty-nine percent of Americans favor Barack Obama's choice of Hillary
> Clinton for secretary of state and 80% approve of his decision to keep
> Robert Gates on as secretary of defense. More generally, 78% approve of the
> way Obama is handling his transition, a better rating than Bill Clinton or
> George W. Bush received.
I doubt this signifies uncomplicated approval of the picks. I suspect that people voted for the 'lesser evil' - not because they necessarily like it, but because it was the best option they had in a narrow electoral spectrum - and that's what they're getting.