Posted on 12/15/2005 10:03:04 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
President Bush’s approval ratings have spiked dramatically over the last month while Congressional approval crashed. Following several recent speeches on Iraq, voters appear to be rallying around the president, with a 10-point jump in his approval since a similar poll in November (from 40% to 50%). Bush’s largest gain was among Independents, whose approval jumped by sixteen points. Meanwhile, voters are souring on Congress, disapproving of its job performance by 64% to 26% — a 14- point rise in disapproval since last month. Despite controlling both houses, Republicans also disapprove of Congress by 54% to 38%.
“Bush has gotten a December bounce every year of his presidency, and this is no exception. Holiday cheer brightens the national mood, and this season’s scandal-plagued Congress can make the president look better in comparison,” said Chuck Todd, Editor-in-Chief of The Hotline.
The Diageo/Hotline Poll of 813 registered voters, conducted by Financial Dynamics on December 12 and 13 with analysis by Ed Reilly (D) and Ed Rollins (R), also found that most Americans think Hurricane Katrina reconstruction is more important than fighting the Iraq War (58% to 28%), although opinions are completely polarized by party identification. The vast majority of Democrats prioritize Katrina reconstruction (79%), while more Republicans prioritize the war (46% prioritize Iraq and 37% Katrina reconstruction). Independents share the Democrats’ view, favoring rebuilding Katrina areas (59% to 27%).
Voters may know they don’t like Congress, but they don’t know its most recent scandals by name. About 71% of voters say they have not heard of Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham; his favorability rating is 2% and his unfavorable rating is 13%. Only 15% of voters have an opinion of Jack Abramoff, with 6% favorable and 9% unfavorable.
Even as Bush’s overall job approval rises, his standing on voters’ top priorities is weak. When asked in an open-ended question what the most important issue facing the U.S. is today, the most common answers were Iraq (31%) and the economy (16%). A majority of Americans still disapprove of Bush’s handling of these key issues (economy 52% to 43%, Iraq 55% to 41%).
Looking towards 2006, voters have plenty of ideas about what President Bush’s New Year’s resolution “should be.” Responding to an open-ended question, 34% of voters volunteered the goal of ending the Iraq War, 9% touched on prioritizing domestic issues over foreign relations, 8% suggested Bush resign from office, and 4% said he should stick to his guns or stay the course. Voters were less ambitious about their own resolutions – 61% said they were not planning to make a personal New Year’s resolution. The most common responses were to diet or live healthier (6%), be a better parent or spouse (3%), and improve finances or pay off debt (2%).
Americans are distinctly optimistic about their financial outlook next year, with 37% saying they expect less debt in 2006 than 2005, while only 15% expect more debt. Similarly, 35% expect their income to increase, while only 10% expect their income to drop. A clear majority of Americans expect to keep their jobs in the next year (59%), while only 9% do not expect to keep their jobs. The most common reason people expect to stay at their jobs is because they like the job (45%), while just under one out of ten cite other reasons like loyalty (9%), good healthcare benefits (8%) or good pay (7%). More Democrats than Republicans cite good healthcare benefits as the primary reason to keep their jobs (11% to 4%), while more Republicans say liking their job is the primary reason they expect to keep it (53% to 38%).
More Americans support Democrats in the next congressional elections by 43% to 33%, a four-point change from last month (41% to 35%). More voters say they are likely to vote for members of Congress based on “positions on national issues” (37%) rather than local issues (17%). Looking towards party preference in the next presidential election, voters lean slightly towards the Democratic candidate, 38% to 32%, with Independents preferring the Democratic candidate 26% to 14%.
Looking towards the 2008 primary process, most voters are neutral on whether Iowa and New Hampshire should maintain their early voting dates (62% and 63%, respectively). The few Americans who have an opinion lean towards supporting the traditional states, with 17% favoring Iowa and 12% opposing, and 17% favoring New Hampshire and 13% opposing.
The Diageo/Hotline Poll also tested the favorability of several prominent people:
- Rep. Jack Murtha has a rating of 18% favorable and 10% unfavorable.
- Rep. Tom DeLay has a rating of 17% favorable and 36% unfavorable.
- Sen. John McCain has a rating of 56% favorable and 14% unfavorable.
- President Bush has a rating of 48% favorable and 48% unfavorable.
- The Democratic Party has a rating of 50% favorable and 36% unfavorable.
- The Republican Party has a rating of 47% favorable and 39% unfavorable.
Aah, that would explain why the MSM has been rather light on polling data lately.
Oh that explains it. Stupid me I thought it was his 4 speeches outlining his plan for Iraq.
Without constant 24/7 attacks by the Democrats and the MSM he would be riding high.
They are trying to hold back President Bush's polls and in the effort are giving aid and comfort to our enemies.Then they cry when they are received as unpatriotic. Truth is they are. They care more about party than country.
This is for several reasons.
The truth is, Bush just had a bad last couple of months, between the hurricanes (which most people didn't blame him, or anyone for) and the Harriet Myers fiasco (which he rightly deserves to be blamed for) and uncertainty about the war
Well, retailers predicted the busiest shopping season in several years, except in my region of the country, which of course, is still digging out from Katrina (there is damage in Mobile itself, though you have to look to find it, as the city was running at normal pace after about 2 weeks)
However, the elections are a success, Bush has appointed a nominee, that if ideological, is at least qualified, and in fact, Myers may have been a tactical ruse, and most importantly, Bush looks committed to rebuilding America's most vital region. All in all, I expect his approval ratings to be near 60% by New Years
Just wait until Bush gets the purple finger bounce!
This reflects the power of the bully pulpit. It's too bad it took him five years to use it rather than attempting to buy off the Democrats with our money.
I think the President bottomed out a few weeks ago.
|
Poll
|
Date
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Spread
|
|
RCP Average
|
12/5 - 12/14
|
43.5%
|
53.7%
|
-10.2%
|
|
12/12 - 12/14
|
46%
|
53%
|
-7%
|
|
|
12/12 - 12/13
|
50%
|
47%
|
-3%
|
|
|
12/9 - 12/12
|
39%
|
55%
|
-16%
|
|
|
12/9 - 12/11
|
42%
|
55%
|
-13%
|
|
|
12/8 - 12/11
|
42%
|
55%
|
-13%
|
|
|
12/5 - 12/7
|
42%
|
57%
|
-15%
|
BTTT
I suppose some Freepers will tell me that this poll is accurate, while the ones that showed Dubya in the dumps a month ago were inaccurate!
LOL
I'm glad I don't read polls, but I'm glad I read FR.
Looks like the MSM has done a good job for Murtha, etc.
That is unacceptable and is totally Bush and the GOP's fault. They need to stgrt campaigning and have some PR work done for the next year because there is no good reason for bad polling on such a strong issue. Its not even an opinion for crying out loud. Otherwise, its time to start firing people.
Overall, this shows a really strong comeback for the Pres.
Yeah, or his recent economic speeches. Or the speeches done by his administration.
Da Bushman has 100% approval from me. Congress, on the other hand as a whole, has dismal approval from me.
"A majority of Americans still disapprove of Bush’s handling of these key issues (economy 52% to 43%, Iraq 55% to 41%)." Jeez louise - a 5% unemloyment, record industrial production, all time record in new homes and new home ownership - no wonder people still vote for democrats they don't read. In addition, the label uninformed on 52% of the people would be a positive comment.
-PJ
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