George W. Bush regains popularity

For the first time since 2005, more Americans view former President George W. Bush favorably than unfavorably.

A Gallup Poll released Wednesday shows the former president viewed positively by 49 percent of respondents, compared to 46 percent who view him negatively.

The numbers are the highest in the five years since left office. At their lowest, in April 2008 during the beginning of the economic recession, only 32 percent of Americans viewed Bush favorably.

Notably, the June 1-4 poll was taken before the revelations of the NSA data tracking, a program allowed by the Patriot Act, passed during Bush's presidency.