Poll: Bush approval hits new low

USA TODAY ^ | Posted 2/2/2004 5:42 PM | Susan Page and Richard Benedetto, and Associated Press writers Patricia L. Garcia and Susan Montoya

[Federalist 78]

President Bush's approval among Americans has sunk to a new low, and Sen. John Kerry would likely win the presidential election if it were held today, according to a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup poll.

In addition, support for going to war with Iraq also dipped below 50% for the first time, to 49%. The proportion of Americans who were certain that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to develop them before the war fell dramatically. More than four in 10 Americans, 43%, said the Bush administration deliberately misled the public about whether Iraq had outlawed weapons.

[hedgie]

Easy, Kerry. "consider his voting record in the Senate, where he has never missed an opportunity to cast an anti-gun vote." NRA-ILA.

Kerry doesn't even need an improvement in his political fortunes. This is a core part of where he comes from politically.

[raloxk]

"They still support the troops but they are more concerned with their jobs, epic government spending, the never ending invasion of millions of illegals into our country, the AWB, etc, etc. You know, domestic issues."


you think most americans are concerned with the AWB?????

I hate to tell you but if we had a referedum on AWB, it would pass overwhemingly.

[Sloth]

Considering most Americans haven't a clue who John Kerry IS, let alone his positions on the issues, I have a real problem buying this.

A large number of those who picked Kerry have merely heard his name somewhere, and could not pick him out of a two-man lineup.

[raloxk]

"Bush is losing support from the base:

1. Illegal Immigration
2. Trip to MARS
3. NEA Budget Increase
4. $521 Billion Deficit
5. Medicare Prescription Drug Increase $150 Billion"


Show me polling data that supports this thesis. You then must be say the base is supporting Kerry then.

if only the base was deserting Bush, then we woudl expect to see Kerry and Bush both in the low 40s, but since Kerry is at 53, then it is clear Bush has lost lots of support with independents, who love more spending.

[Owen]

Some things are debateable. Some things are mathematical truth.

Fringe right wing has a statistical meaning and that meaning is that there ain't many of them. Period. Barry Goldwater spent a campaign year talking about how the unseen woodwork conservatives were going to appear and catapult him to victory. He's still waiting for them.

Bush is a right-leaning moderate. Kerry is a left leaning liberal and he will spend the year trying to keep the word extremist from being added. Those are the battle lines and there will be no other aspect to them -- and you know what, that's exactly what was true in 2000, too.

Right leaning moderate is the best we will ever do in a general election. That is defined by the political spectrum and nothing else. Not preference. Not conspiracy. Not Karl Rove. Not the two party system. Not the Trilateralist Commission. Not the Council for Foreign Relations. It's defined by the universe and the phrase "political spectrum" and there's nothing any of us will ever be able to do about it. Bush is probably more right leaning than we are likely to see anytime again in the near future.

So get your knees ready for broken glass and start volunteering to drive vans on election day to GOTV because it is once again time to vote AGAINST the horrid possibility of a Democrat in the White House using its machinery to define policy and nominate justices that the gutless GOP Senate won't oppose.

[exmarine]

If you don't think Bush will lose votes over his insane immigration plan, then you must also believe that the Replublican base has no PRINCIPLED people. Principled people vote principle not party. Within a week after his immigration announcement, Bush's approval rating dropped 10 points. Then, we read a border patrol report that says that illegal crossings have increased 15% since his announcement.

I don't know about you, but I do not agree to give my tax dollars so that the 25 million relatives of the 10 million illegals that will be legalized can come here and attend our public schools and get free healthcare. That is not charity, it's legalized theft from the taxpayers. Nevermind that it will radically change the demographics and character of this nation forever. Kiss the United States as we know it good-bye if this plan goes into effect.

[raloxk]

but how is this translating into support for Kerry which is rising? I dont doubt his immigration proposal could cost him votes but if I listen to you, I must conclude that the conservative base is going for Kerry. First of all ex-marine you must realise that you are on the fringe right and most people do not think as you do. Bush has clearly lost a lot of support among independents, who do oppose big deficits but who do not oppose spending initiatives. To think that Bush's fall in the polls is relective of his base deserting him is not reflected in any poll numbers, it is clear independents are deserting him.


I have warned people here that is it very likely that if Kerry wins in 2004, he will win in 2008. He wont be a one term President.

[exmarine]

I dont doubt his immigration proposal could cost him votes but if I listen to you, I must conclude that the conservative base is going for Kerry.

If you need an example, I give you 1992. Many conservatives stayed at home or voted Perot and Bush lost big. The same type of election is shaping up because I will not vote for a socialist, and I certainly will not vote for a man who doesn't give a flip about U.S. sovereignty.

First of all ex-marine you must realise that you are on the fringe right and most people do not think as you do.

Yes, that is sad. There is only about 15-20% of us who are REAL conservative - the rest are just members of the Republican party who will sell out principle for party every time. Most Americans don't care about RIGHT AND WRONG; they are more concerned with what they can get out of an election (Democrats) or about voting for a bad candidate to keep an even worse candidate out of the White House (republicants).

Bush has clearly lost a lot of support among independents, who do oppose big deficits but who do not oppose spending initiatives.

Bush lost alot of support among TRUE CONSERVATIVES (you know the people who don't like socialist big govt types, and the people who really care about social issues). Bush falls short on both counts.

To think that Bush's fall in the polls is relective of his base deserting him is not reflected in any poll numbers, it is clear independents are deserting him.

We'll see won't we. If you think this immigration thing won't drive many conservatives away from him, you better think again. A full 58% of Republicans are against that insane plan of his, and many of those will bolt if he goes thru with it.

If Bush doesn't stop acting like a liberal, he is going to lose.

[exmarine]

I have warned people here that is it very likely that if Kerry wins in 2004, he will win in 2008. He wont be a one term President.

In a republic like ours, the people ALWAYS get exactly what they deserve. The leaders ALWAYS reflect the character of the people. If Kerrey is elected, then that is what America deserves, and everyone will go down on the Titanic together. Unless Americans turn from the immoral wretched ways, it is a certainty. The only hope for America is Jesus Christ.

I no longer believe America is a great nation. Greatness is measured in moral values, not in money or military might and America's morals today are on a par with Sodom and Gomorrah.

[raloxk]

"In a republic like ours, the people ALWAYS get exactly what they deserve"

you make a great point. During Clinton impeachment I use to debate my boss who was rabidly anti-Clinton. I told him that far from debasing the culture, Clinton was a product of it. He refused to accept my argument. My point to him was if America hadnt declined so precipitously since the 1960s, Clinton would never have been elected in 1992. He had children and I didnt so I think that was the reason he didnt accpet my argument. I was arguning the society was sick and CLinton was its product, he was arguing society is ok, it is only Clinton who is an abberation.

[Walkin Man]

Right leaning moderate is the best we will ever do in a general election. Bush is probably more right leaning than we are likely to see anytime again in the near future.

So you prefer the slow socialism of the GOP as opposed to the quicker version of the same thing offered by the Rat party, right?

Maybe that motivates you enough to support GW.

Doesn't motivate me at all.

I'd rather sit on the back porch drinkin a beer on election day and ponder why America took all the blessings God gave her and threw them away.

The party label of the executioner that destroys the USA doesn't matter in the end, does it?

[hedgie]

Bush is losing support from the base:

1. Illegal Immigration
2. Trip to MARS <== "TheEaglehasLanded" doesn't like this?
3. NEA Budget Increase
4. $521 Billion Deficit
5. Medicare Prescription Drug Increase $150 Billion

[Owen]

You know, making a case for fast destruction vs slow destruction is exactly like telling a cancer patient with Hodgkins disease (which is 98% curable) that they should forgo treatment since they will die someday anyway.

The treatment is unpleasant and life isn't great, but it retains the potential for something better.

You, and I, have no choice. It is maximum effort in support of GW Bush or it is allowing Hodgkins to kill you . . . perhaps 40 years early.

[colorado tanker]

American's for the most part are beyond the WOT.

Sadly, I agree. But you know in this election year Al Qaeda will do everything they can to pull off a big attack in the U.S. if for no other reason than to try to discredit Bush and get the do nothing Dims back in power. All the flight cancellations lately have frankly been scary to me.

[dwilli]

The house Republicans did.

[PISANO]

What I love about polling of GW is that from the day after the first poll after 911 was taken the headline is Bush poll numbers "falling" or "flat" or off his "HIGHS' or positive "BUT". Polling is just a way for the Leftists in the media to make their own news headlines.

[tuckrdout]

I think it is more likely that independents are disapproving with Bush and going to Kerry.

What so many don't understand, is that the Republican Party IS a party of "independents". It is more of a coalition of people with conservative views. Bush has divided that coalition, foolishly thinking that his base will not vote for a Democrat. I have heard the phrase, "where else will they go?!"

I hear that Judge Roy Moore is thinking of running as an independent. This is where the true conservative vote and money, will go.

[raloxk]

i think mostly Bush's decline in the polls recently is due to no WMDs.

[Types_with_Fist]

To win, Bush has to convince people that he is not the right winger they say he is.

Well, if that's the only criteria, no problemo. However, he loses his base--the conservatives. After watching this decidedly liberal president in action, the votes he needs most of all won't vote for the other guy; they'll simply stay home.

[thesummerwind]

Go Edwards!!! Looking good tonight in S.C. and Oklahoma.