The president's approval rating set a record high in the Gallup Poll at 90 percent in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Bush has not reached Gallup's all-time low raiting of 22 percent, set by Harry Truman in 1952. But Bush has reached his own personal all-time low of 25 percent in the latest Gallup Poll.
by Mark Silva
President Bush will step out today for a pep-talk about the economy, a badly stumbling economy that he had called fundamentally "sound'' not many months ago.
He will be talking at an office products company in suburban Chantilly, Va., about the economic stabilization act which Congress has passed at his insistence, a $700-billion bailout of the nation's bankers that may take some time to show political profit.
Bush's own bottom-line has reached a new low at the same time, with the president's public approval rating dropping to 25 percent in the latest Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday, since passage of the bailout. This marks the lowest point of Bush's presidency and it stands only three points higher than the all-time low in the history of Gallup's post-World War II polling of presidential approval.
With the president's sinking public approval comes a lack of confidence in his ability to handle the economy. A separate CNN poll has found that fewer than 30 percent of those surveyed voice confidence in Bush's ability to deal with the economy.
Confidence in the candidates for president is split, with 50 percent voicing confidence in Republican John McCain's ability to handle the economy in that CNN poll and 68 percent voicing confidence in Demcorat Barack Obama's ability - which speaks to the reason that Obama has gained an overall advantage in national opinion polling in the midst of the current economic crisis.
As for Bush, however, he may have had the political capital to pass the bailout - he also had a national sense of urgency on his side. But his ability to convince Americans to remain confident about the outcome of the government's intervention in the economy may be another story.
The president's approval rating in the Gallup Poll stands just one point higher than Richard Nixon's lowest job approval rating of 24 percent, measured in the summer of 1974, before his resignation. It stands just three points higher than Harry Truman's all-time Gallup low job-approval rating of 22 percent, measured in 1952.
"The current poll recording Bush's low job approval rating was conducted after Congress passed the economic rescue bill on Oct. 3,'' Gallup's Frank Newport notes.
"Americans recognize the economy as the nation's top problem, but apparently, the passage of this bill -- which the Bush administration had heavily advocated -- did nothing to affect Bush's approval ratings. Indeed, only 55 percentof members of Bush's own party approve of him in the poll, perhaps a reflection of some pushback from conservatives who do not strongly support the economic bill. Nineteen percent of independents and 5 percent of Democrats approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president.''
The ratings come from a survey of 1,011 adults conducted Oct. 3-5 and carry a possible margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
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Comments
He still beats congress! Woopee! Get rid of them all.
http://www.boppoll.com
I hope the markets stablize.
Posted by: Making Whoopee! | October 7, 2008 7:46 AM
G.W. Bush - he's #1!
John McCain should fly back to D.C. and give Dubya a big 'ol man hug to celebrate.
It makes as much sense as talking about guilt by association, instead of the economy.
Posted by: Doug Zook | October 7, 2008 7:50 AM
Who are the 25% who still believe he's doing a good job? What kind of drugs are they taking, because I want some too. They really need to share the happy pills.
Posted by: Liz | October 7, 2008 9:16 AM
And now we have running "Bush-in-lipstick." She even pronounces nu-cue-lar just like the decider. And she panders to the same beer-drinking crowd as the current occupant. Are we in for four more years? Your votes will decide it.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | October 7, 2008 11:14 AM
So then why isnt barack obama ahead by thirty points instead of three.?
Posted by: brigitte | October 7, 2008 12:24 PM
brigette: "So then why isnt barack obama ahead by thirty points instead of three.?" I suggest you check out what H. L. Mencken said about underestimating the intelligence of the American people.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | October 7, 2008 12:41 PM
Gee, I guess he can't totally escape scrutiny just because two others are vying for his job. Who would have thought?
Posted by: James Roberts | October 7, 2008 5:03 PM
Where is Bruce with the 'real' polls?
Posted by: C.Morris | October 7, 2008 6:32 PM
I have always observed that americans care for nothing but their pocket and this graph demonstates this wonderfully. Bush had the highest approval ever after bellowing out how he was going to shock and awe the Middle East into oblivion. The americans loved that. I did mention to many that their glee in global terrorism spearheaded by their commander in cheif would one day soon be tempered by their own misfortune. But they said nonsense, we are the best, we kill who we want, we are number one u.s.a, u.s.a... And here it is! 90% for mass murder and a sad 25% for dwindling bank accounts:( I have been asking this question since childhood, are the americans ever going to stop digging their own graves? Do they not understand that it is not some funny sounding people over there that is "getting" the u.s. treatment? And because americans not only dont care but sanction their government they have only themselves to blame. But still, still they do not make this connection in between their fascist ideology and their own demise. I just hope one day, one day the world will be released from this terrorist state.
Posted by: funnypeople | October 29, 2008 3:09 AM
The economy IS fundamentally sound. The economy is going through a cycle. We can't AMEND the economy. The recession we are experiencing is a cycle. I respect the fact that we haven't had a terrorist attack since september eleventh. Unfortunately, this type of protection costs money. Also, please don't complain about the war. There is only one (1) war. We are maintaining order in Afghanastan, so troops are needed there. Ha, we've had soldiers in Germany maintaining order since our struggle in World War II. We had terrorist attacks before from the middle east, (the first Trade center bombing, USS Cole, etc.) These happened during the Clinton Administration's time in office, were ignored, and are now being swept up by a republican with the media criticizing his every move. After countless years of research in government, I've developed strong support for George W. Bush. I was in doubt at times, but America will realize his good deeds in the years to come.
Posted by: Brandon | November 5, 2008 10:51 PM