Posted on 10/06/2004 8:31:46 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - A larger proportion of California voters now believe the country is headed in the wrong direction than at any time since President Bush took office, according to a new statewide poll released Wednesday.
Driven by worries over terrorism, the war in Iraq and the economy, 58 percent of Californian believe the country is on the wrong track, according to a new Field Poll. That figure has gradually risen since December 2001 when 68 percent said the nation was headed in the right direction.
Meanwhile, Bush continues to receive record low approval ratings in California with 54 percent saying they disapprove of how he's doing his job.
While some Bush supporters may argue that numbers are distorted by partisan feelings - 43 percent of Californians are registered Democrats to 36 percent Republicans - pollsters point out that Bush's standing among California voters only nine months ago was much better.
In January, 52 percent of California voters said they approved of the way Bush was doing his job, while voters were evenly divided about the direction of the country.
"Certainly the war has dragged on and become more of a problem for the president than many people were led to believe it would be in January," said Mark DiCamillo, poll director. "The passage of time has really hurt Bush on the war and it's probably going to be a problem for whoever wins. I think it's an intractable problem."
DiCamillo also said there's growing frustration among voters that the expanding economy is not delivering new jobs and higher income. "Corporate profits seem to be healthy and the gross national product seems to be growing but the average person doesn't seem to be better off."
Overall, the poll found Californians have lost much of their confidence in Bush since 2001 on three key issues.
Bush's stewardship of the economy was favored by 57 percent of Californians in December 2001, with 35 percent disapproving. Today, the numbers are reversed: 55 percent disapprove of his economic policies and 40 percent approve.
Similarly, 82 percent of California voters gave Bush high marks for his efforts in reducing the threat of terror in December 2001, with just 13 percent disapproving. Now, 53 percent said he is reducing the threat of terror, while 44 percent said he is not.
The new survey found a significant difference in priorities between supporters of Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. The war in Iraq, with 31 percent, was identified as the biggest issue for the supporters of Kerry, followed by the economy at 29 percent. On the other hand, voters who support the president said terrorism was their biggest concern at 53 percent with the war identified by only 18 percent and the economy by just 10 percent.
On the war itself, 60 percent of Californians said they do not approve of the way Bush is managing things in Iraq, while 37 percent approve. A majority - 55 percent - also disapprove of his handling of the economy.
The poll was drawn from interviews with 640 registered California voters between Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
ON THE NET
www.field.com
we had an internet economy go bust and corporations propped up by lax federal enforcements of laws under the reign of Wild Bill and his wrecking crew administration.
we had an anti-business, special interest-driven legislature (and we still do) and socially liberal gub, that allows spending to continue to grow at unmaintainable rates, while sweetheart pension deals were given to unions doing business to the state.
we had a governor who was more concerned with raising money than governing a state in need of reining in its burgeoning broken budget process due to social programs for the illegals and special interests, not to mention the tossing of more money at the schools while allowing a socialist agenda to be pushed down the kids and parents throats.
Oh, and Iraq, most Californians have never seen a mass grave so leaving Saddam in place would have been so much more democratic and diplomatic, yaknow. And the folks that flew planes into the WTC and Pentagon are just misunderstood.
Yup. It's all Bush's fault. :-\
When the Big One comes, and if President Bush is in office, don't go crying to Washington for aid, California.
Many of you are nothing MOORE than an ungrateful bunch of self-absorbed a**wipes.
The Old Media has successfully buried this.
I am a native Californian, something rare it seems these days. I hate it here! I need to find another state to live in!
If I lived in the People's Republic of Mexifornia, I would probably feel the same way.
If California thinks we're headed in the wrong direction then that means we are going in the right direction. If there is one state that the rest of the country doesn't need to follow its California.
What a joke.
Yet another the conveniently leaves his state off his profile. Hehe
I was just thinking the same thing. I went to high school and some college in California, had two of my children there, was married to the military during Desert Storm and I can tell you my experience was it was like living on another planet. I have thought for years the California politicians and policies have been far outside the reasonable thinking-man's sphere. If California doesn't like the direction we are going in,,then we are doing just fine, thank you!
Or is MO your state? Code?
US: Record number of Non-Californians believe anything a majority of Californians think is irrelevant to the rest of the nation.
CA freepers take note: I said "majority of Californians" this would not include you since you are certainly the minority in nutville.
RECORD NUMBER OF AMERICANS BELIEVE CALIFORNIA IS ON THE WRONG TRACK
In a stunning development, 100% of the people polled believe that the great state of California has been infested with nuts and flakes. In a sample survey of 1, the question was asked "do you think that the state of California would pass a global test for sanity?" The resounding answer was "NO!" developing...
SW Ohio is a nice place.
i live in california.. i dont rememember being polled..hmmmm anywho... has anyone been to hollywood latelty? everyother billboard has some sort of pro-gay message on it... its terrible.. you cant even take your kids there anymore... i wonder if these are the types of people they are polling about the direction of our country?
Out of control illegal immigration, socialist state government, and all the rest, I don't see how anyone living in California could help but thinking the country is going in the wrong direction. Californians think California is the country.
I believe this so strongly that I would like to see Bush removed from office unless he changes his attitudes on illegal immigration and the protection of our sovereignty from our southern neighbors.
The tolerance of massive, unregulated immigration is having a profound effect on our entire nation and culture. If the status quo is left unchecked, we will slide into the third world, engulfed by their poor.
MUSTTT REEESISTTTT ANTI-CALIFORNIAAA THREAD>>>>> MUSSSSTTT RRREEESISSSTTTT....
Nope. Can't do it.
"Many of you are nothing MOORE than an ungrateful bunch of self-absorbed a**wipes."
That was unnecessary and very difficult to read and not take offense. California is on the frontlines. I'm working them. We have ALOT OF ELECTORAL VOTES. NEEDED VOTES. Some people think it's hopeless, and maybe it is, but progress is made every day. And I'm not sitting in my Barca-lounger in some comfy Texas (or whatever) Republican stronghold pointing fingers and making vulgar statements. How about more support and less negativity? We got enough of that out here already. Thank you.
I live in CA and I think our state bumper sticker ought to be, "Don't follow me, I'm lost"
No beach. Where do you surf?
Nobody polled me either. SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS CONSERVATIVE!
California is NOT all nuts! Dont forget us out here. THANKS TO ALL THE BUSH STATES OUT THERE! Where would we be without you? I hope someday that we can return California to the Republicans. California afterall was once Reagan Country.
Till then ... shut up already.
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