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Bush's approval rating hits new low
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-10 19:53
"People have seen and heard (Bush's) ideas long enough and that enters into
their thinking. People are kind of, `Well, I wonder what other people can do,'"
he said.
U.S. President George W. Bush waves as he
arrives to speak at the Georgia Republican Party's annual Presidents Day
dinner in Atlanta, March 9, 2006. [Reuters] |
The poll suggests that most Americans wonder whether Bush is up to the job.
The survey, conducted Monday through Wednesday of 1,000 people, found that just
37 percent approve of his overall performance. That is the lowest of his
presidency.
Bush's job approval among Republicans plummeted from 82 percent in February
to 74 percent, a dangerous sign in a midterm election year when parties rely on
enthusiasm from their most loyal voters. The biggest losses were among white
males.
On issues, Bush's approval rating declined from 39 percent to 36 percent for
his handling of domestic affairs and from 47 percent to 43 percent on foreign
policy and terrorism. His approval ratings for dealing with the economy and Iraq
held steady, but still hovered around 40 percent.
Personally, far fewer Americans consider Bush likable, honest, strong and
dependable than they did just after his re-election campaign.
By comparison, Presidents Clinton and Reagan had public approval in the mid
60s at this stage of their second terms in office, while Eisenhower was close to
60 percent, according to Gallup polls. Nixon, who was increasingly tangled up in
the Watergate scandal, was in the high 20s in early 1974.
The AP-Ipsos poll, which has a margin of error of 3 percentage points, gives
Republicans reason to worry that they may inherit Bush's political woes.
Two-thirds of the public disapproves of how the GOP-led Congress is handling its
job and a surprising 53 percent of Republicans give Congress poor marks.
"Obviously, it's the winter of our discontent," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.
By a 47-36 margin, people favor Democrats over Republicans when they are
asked who should control Congress.
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