For the first time in almost two and a half years, slightly more than half of Americans approve of the job that President Barack Obama is doing, according to the results of a new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday afternoon. 

 Obama's job approval rating is now at 51 percent, a six-point jump from the same survey in July, and an 11-point boost from the same point last year, when just 40 percent said they approved of the job he is doing.

  The president also won a majority of approval for his decision to keep troops in Afghanistan past the previously announced 2016 deadline, with 50 percent supporting and 39 percent opposed.