Voters are slightly less sure these days that First Lady Michelle Obama is involved in her husband’s policy decisions, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Fifty-one percent (51%) say Mrs. Obama is at least somewhat involved in the president’s policy decisions, including 18% who say she is very involved. The overall finding is virtually identical to last month’s but down from 58% in early March.

However, the percentage who say she is very likely to be involved in policy decisions has been largely unchanged for several months.

Thirty-six percent (36%) see little or no involvement by Mrs. Obama in White House policy decisions, with 27% who say she is not very involved and nine percent (9%) who say she is not at all involved. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure.

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Fifty-nine percent (59%) have a favorable opinion of the first lady, including 39% whose view of her is very favorable. Thirty-two percent (32%) regard her unfavorably, with 16% very unfavorable toward her, the highest finding in the latter category to date.

This is also the second month in row that Mrs. Obama’s favorables have dropped below 60%. At the end of April, 65% had a favorable opinion of the first lady. In July, 62% felt that way.

Forty-four percent (44%) of women have a very favorable view of Mrs. Obama, compared to 34% of men. Younger adults are more likely to view her favorably than those who are older.

African-Americans are nearly three times as likely as whites to have a very favorable view of Mrs. Obama. Seventy-one percent (71%) of Democrats see her very favorably, a view shared by just 10% of Republicans and 31% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Democrats say the first lady is at least somewhat involved in policy decisions, and 47% of Republicans and 50% of unaffiliateds agree.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters had a favorable view of Mrs. Obama just after Election Day last November, and 62% expected her to be an activist first lady like Hillary Clinton rather than a more traditional one like Laura Bush.

The president is experiencing a bounce in his approval ratings in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential tracking Poll following his speech to Congress last week.

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