Britain And The US
Big events shape public opinion. Public opinion shapes the political scene. Four months before the invasion of the Falklands, Mrs. Thatcher was the least popular prime minister in polling history. John Major was little known when he became Prime Minister in November 1990, just before the Gulf War. His rating rose faster than anyone before. However, after Black Wednesday, his rating fell even faster. After dropping sharply over the past year, Blair's satisfaction rating took a 12 point jump between the end of February and the end of March.