ON APRIL 27th a large passenger jet flew low over Manhattan, closely pursued by a fighter aircraft. Unsurprisingly, New Yorkers panicked. For Barack Obama’s detractors, the incident perfectly captured the new president’s penchant for style over substance. “Wouldn’t Photoshop have been cheaper？” asked a conservative blogger.

　　After 100 days in office, Mr Obama is still scorned by the people who scorned him as a candidate. But they are a minority. A YouGov/Polimetrix poll for The Economist found that fully 70% of Americans like Mr Obama as a person. Many are struck by his intelligence and wholesome family, complete with new dog.