A new poll finds Democrats in a strong position with the public when it comes to efforts to find a fix to the looming fiscal crisis.

President Obama' s first post-reelection job approval rating has risen to 55 percent -- up 5 points since July and 11 points since the start of the year. His job rating is markedly higher than George W. Bush's first post election job rating -- 48 percent -- in 2004.

When it comes to reaching an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, 55 percent say Obama is making a serious effort to work with Republicans. But just 32 percent say Republican leaders are making a serious effort to work with Obama.

The  national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Dec. 5-9 among 1,503 adults, found the "current problems for the GOP run deep." Just 25 percent approve of the way Republican leaders in Congress are doing their jobs, while 40 percent approve of Democratic leaders' job performance. GOP lead negotiator, House Speaker John Boehner, is viewed more unfavorably 40 percent than favorably -- 28 percent.