Bush Approval Drops to Post-9/11 Low - But still high historically

Gallup ^ | June 7, 2002 | David W. Moore

[TomGuy]

POLL ANALYSES

June 7, 2002

Bush Approval Drops to Post-9/11 Low

But still high historically

by David W. Moore

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- The latest Gallup poll, conducted June 3-6, shows that 70% of Americans approve of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president, down seven percentage points from last week and the lowest level since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. The rating is still high by historical standards, and is 19 points above the level measured just prior to the terrorist attacks.

George W. Bush’s Job Approval Rating

The new rating comes after a week of intense news coverage about what the Bush administration knew about the terrorist attacks before they occurred. Virtually all of the interviewing was completed before Bush's address to the nation last night, when he announced his proposal for a Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security.

The poll also shows that the decline in Bush's approval comes from Democrats and independents, but not Republicans. Forty-nine percent of Democrats express approval, down 10 points from last week. Independents show a seven-point decline, from 75% at the end of May to 68% today. Republican approval is at 96% in the current poll, off one point from last week but just above the average level since March.

George W. Bush’s Job Approval Rating: by Party

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,010 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted June 3-6, 2002. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

[Huck]

Interesting. The Dim line and the Independent line are pretty much identical.

[arkfreepdom]

Bet the next one's up. Also, "Independents" still support him at very high levels....very bad news for the dims.

[The Wizard]

If his numbers are that high among Dems and indys, he's sailing

[Recovering_Democrat]

Republican approval is at 96% in the current poll, off one point from last week but just above the average level since March.

OH MY GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWD! From the way one reads the threads here on FR (and Howard Fineman of PMSNBC), you'd think the President was TRYING to hold together a fractiously split Republican Party!!!!!!!

BTW, when was this poll taken? Before the Presidential address?

[cake_crumb]

The worst Gallup can come up with is that 70 percent is a "post 9-11 low"....LOL. The left must be about ready to have a stroke.

Look for the "what did he know and when did he know it" commentries, and the hindsight nitpicking Bush's policies, both real and imagined policies, to increase dramatically next week...

The Dem falloff isn't surprising. They desperately NEED to find something to dislike about Bush, in order to justify the embarrassingly stupid analyses they keep making. "Independent" has got a high proportion of wingnut party members who hate the fact that no matter how much they talk, no one but other wingnuts listen. They drop the numbers on the moderates who compose the rest of the Independent category.

[OldFriend]

LOLOL if the President's approval rating was 77%, how come we didn't hear about that!!!!

[OldFriend]

Watch for the spinning to begin......the media/McAwful/ and some talking heads too.

[Alas Babylon!]

Gallup has their numbers, but others have different results.

Here's what Fox News had for the SAME time period:

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll
.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the job George W. Bush is doing as president?"
		Approve	Disap- prove	Don't Know
		%	%	%		N
	6/4-5/02	74	15	11		900RV
	5/14-15/02	77	15	8		900RV
	4/30 - 5/1/02	72	18	10		900RV
	4/16-17/02	76	15	9		900RV
	4/2-3/02	79	13	8		900RV
	3/12-13/02	80	12	8		900RV
	2/26-27/02	77	13	10		900RV
	2/12-13/02	81	11	8		900RV
	1/30-31/02	81	12	7		900RV
	1/9-10/02	83	10	7		900RV
	12/12-13/01	86	8	6		900RV
	11/28-29/01	86	6	8		900RV
	11/14-15/01	88	7	5		900RV
	10/31 - 11/1/01	84	8	8		900RV
	10/17-18/01	84	10	6		900RV
	10/3-4/01	80	10	10		900RV
	9/19-20/01	81	12	7		900RV
	8/22-23/01	55	32	13		900RV
	7/25-26/01	59	25	16		900RV
	7/11-12/01	56	30	14		900RV
	6/6-7/01	59	28	13		900RV
	5/9-10/01	59	26	15		900RV
	4/18-19/01	63	22	15		904RV
	3/28-29/01	57	24	19		905RV
	3/14-15/01	56	23	21		904RV
	2/21-22/01	61	16	23		906RV
	2/7-8/01	55	16	29		901RV
	1/24-25/01	46	14	40		902RV

						.
					RV = registered voters

  Data from Polling Report. They list EVERY major poll done around the nation, continuously updated. Add it to your bookmarks/favorites. They have all the latest polls.

[Pining_4_TX]

If Bush doesn't stop spending our money like Ted and Bill in a bordello, then his poll numbers will drop.

[FITZ]

If Bush doesn't stop spending our money like Ted and Bill in a bordello

Maybe that's why he's doing quite well with democrat voters.

[cake_crumb]

"Watch for the spinning to begin......the media/McAwful/ and some talking heads too."

Yep. Don't forget McInsane's "better half" Dashless.

[Always Right]

The worst Gallup can come up with is that 70 percent is a "post 9-11 low"....LOL. The left must be about ready to have a stroke.

Actually the left is pretty excited by this. They believe their campaign against Bush is working. The dillusional left will thankfully keep the War on Terrorism in the spotlight, which is an issue that nobody trusts the Dems with. Go stupid DUers go!!!!!!!!!!

[cake_crumb]

"If Bush doesn't stop spending our money like Ted and Bill in a bordello, then his poll numbers will drop"

Quite so. How dare he increase spending during war time! We can't afford pay raises for our military! Why increase funding for homeland security when he can't impliment it retrocatively? National Guard? Coast guard? Who needs 'em! They just spend our money on their toy guns and Humvees and boats and planes and stuff!

[cake_crumb]

"Go stupid DUers go!!!!!!!!!!"

LOL! You got THAT right!

[deport]

Republican approval is at 96% in the current poll, off one point from last week but just above the average level since March.

Damn, I thought according to the posters on this forum his numbers among Republicans would be at least down below %50..... LOL. You know all those that say they won't vote for him again, etc.

The spinning by the media, talk show hosts aren't driving his numbers down or at least not yet. It will be interesting to see what the public reaction will be to his proposed Homeland thing.

[OldFriend]

You are sooo right........those who have an agenda that is not based in the reality of WAR seem to think that proving their conservative bona fides is far more important that national security.

[SW6906]

"...question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls."

Like repeating the media mantra of "what did he know and when did he know it" and then asking whether people approve of the President?

[GuillermoX]

Yeah, farm welfare and increasing federal education spending by 60% is for the "war effort". I guess CFR and steel tarrifs are for the war effort too. Uh-huh.

[section9]

The decline of one point in Republicans has to be within the margin of error, so much so as to be statistically insignificant. That W is keeping his base solidly with him belies the wails of El Rushbo and the Klown Kar Krowd over at the Weekly Standard.

Now that the Democrats have decided to concentrate on "how we screwed up the war", Bush turns the issue about and asks Americans "how we can win the war in the future". Americans want an investigation into the failures to anticipate the terrorist attacks of 9-11, but they are firmly focused on winning the war. The point is, the Dims have inadvertantly refocused public attention on Bush's strong suit: the war. Bush's elegant aikido move, coopting the Democratic demands for a cabinet level Department of Homeland Security, effectively shut down the Democratic theme machine for the remainder of this electoral cycle. Now the issue will be: "...why are the Democrats conducting needless turf battles when American security is under threat. Geez, I gave 'em what they wanted! Oh, and by the way, the Dems won't give you any new judges, either."

I really like George W. Bush's position going into the campaign right now.

Be Seeing You,

Chris