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.
From The Associated Press, 3/10/06:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060310/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_ap_poll
Bush's Approval Rating Hits New Low
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer
WASHINGTON -
More and more people, particularly Republicans, disapprove of
President Bush's performance, question his character and no longer
consider him a strong leader against terrorism, according to an
AP-Ipsos poll documenting one of the bleakest points of his
presidency.
Nearly four out of five Americans, including 70 percent of
Republicans, believe civil war will break out in Iraq -- the bloody
hot spot upon which Bush has staked his presidency.
Nearly 70 percent of people say the U.S. is on the wrong track, a
6-point jump since February.
"I'm not happy with how things are going," said Margaret Campanelli, a
retiree in Norwich, Conn., who said she tends to vote GOP.
"I'm particularly not happy with Iraq, not happy with how things
worked with Hurricane Katrina."
Republican Party leaders said the survey explains why GOP lawmakers
are rushing to distance themselves from Bush on a range of issues --
port security, immigration, spending, warrantless eavesdropping and
trade, for example.
The positioning is most intense among Republicans facing election in
November and those considering 2008 presidential campaigns.
"You're in the position of this cycle now that is difficult anyway. In
second term off-year elections, there gets to be a familiarity
factor," said Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a potential presidential
candidate.
"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.
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.
While the gap worries Republicans, Cole and others said it does not
automatically translate into GOP defeats in November, when voters will
face a choice between local candidates rather than considering
Congress as a whole.
In addition, strategists in both parties agree that a divided and
undisciplined Democratic Party has failed to seize full advantage of
Republican troubles.
"While I don't dispute the fact that we have challenges in the current
environment politically, I also believe 2006 as a choice election
offers Republicans an opportunity if we make sure the election is
framed in a way that will keep our majorities in the House and the
Senate," said Ken Mehlman, chairman of the
Republican National Committee.
Stung by criticism, senior officials at the White House and the RNC
are reminding GOP members of Congress that Bush's approval ratings may
be low, but theirs is lower and have declined at the same pace as
Bush's.
____________________________________________________________
The Republican back-stabbing, finger-pointing, blame game begins. Wait
a minute. I know. Of course. It's Clinton's fault.
Harry
.
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