|
March 2005 approval rating lowest of bush presidency Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-03-24-bush-poll_x.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-03-24-bush-poll_x.htm
Bush approval slips to 45%, lowest of his presidency
By Bill Nichols, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — President Bush's approval rating has fallen to 45%, the lowest point of his presidency, according to a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll.
The new poll found the largest drop for Bush came among men, self-described conservatives and churchgoers.
By Tom Hanson, AP
The finding, in a poll of 1,001 adults Monday through Wednesday, is a dip from 52% in a poll taken last week. Bush's previous lowest rating, 46%, was recorded last May.
The White House declined to comment. Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said that Bush is taking on "tough issues, whether it's to reform Social Security, promoting the spread of democracy or making a renewed pitch to Congress to pass comprehensive energy reform."
Independent political analysts said the drop may reflect opposition to the White House and Congress intervening in the Terri Schiavo matter.
"You have to wonder if people didn't feel that the president and the Congress couldn't be spending their time working on Social Security and other problems," said Charlie Cook, editor of the non-partisan Cook Political Report.
On Monday, Bush signed a bill passed in an unusual weekend session of Congress allowing federal courts to take jurisdiction over a decision by Schiavo's husband, Michael, to have her feeding tube removed.
A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll last weekend found that 61% would have a spouse's feeding tube removed under similar circumstances.
The new poll found the largest drop for Bush came among men, self-described conservatives and churchgoers.
The poll also found an increased number of Democrats. In this survey, 37% said they were Democrats and 32% said they were Republicans. Last week, 32% said they were Democrats and 35% said they were Republicans.
Bush's handling of the economy also appears to have contributed to the poll's findings.
Bush's economic ratings:
•59% said economic conditions are getting worse, Bush's highest negative number on the economy in two years.
•32% rated economic conditions good or excellent, the lowest rating in over a year.
•A Gallup Poll taken in the same period found rising concern about gas costs. Fuel and oil prices tied with unemployment, jobs and wages for top economic concerns.
"Any politician pushing a Social Security privatization plan that cuts benefits and increases the national debt by $4.3 trillion would see his or her approval ratings tumble," said Josh Earnest, Democratic National Committe spokesman.
The margin of error for the USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll is +/- 3 percentage points.
|
|
