WASHINGTON, D.C. -- White House officials are busy working to turn the traditional slow news vacuum of Thanksgiving week into constant stream of good stories in hopes that the charm offensive will help revive the president's sagging job approval ratings.

President Obama's job approval ratings have been on a generally downward slide since his inauguration early this year, currently standing at less than 50 percent, according to a Pollster.com average of surveys. His approval rating in Minnesota is just 51 percent, according to a Rasmussen poll released earlier this month. It's not unusual for a president in his first year — Ronald Reagan reached the 50 percent line in less time, for example — but it's not a trend that officials want to continue.

So White House officials have lined up a litany of "good news" stories for this week. First up in the queue this morning was education - where officials announced $260 million of public and private funds to be invested in science, technology, engineering and math education.

Administration officials have another press conference scheduled this afternoon to talk about toy safety. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India comes to town. He'll be the guest of honor at Obama's first official state dinner that evening.

The annual White House holiday season traditions begin Wednesday, when the president will pardon a Thanksgiving turkey. Two days later, the White House Christmas tree arrives on a horse-drawn carriage.

If everything goes according to script, the first Christmas presents will arrive at the White House next week — in the form of better job approval ratings.