Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
- 2008: Race for the White House
- 2008: The U.S. Electoral College
- Abortion
- Africa
- Angela Merkel
- Death Penalty
- Economy and Globalization
- Environment
- European Union
- George W. Bush
- Global Warming
- Gordon Brown
- Hamas
- Immigration
- Iran
- Iraq War
- Kevin Rudd
- Latin America
- New Zealand Election 2008
- Nicolas Sarkozy
- North Korea
- Oil and Gas
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Silvio Berlusconi
- Stem Cell Research
- Stephen Harper
- Terrorism
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Democrats
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Republicans
- U.S. Election 2008: The Primaries
- Vladimir Putin
- Yasuo Fukuda
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Bush Approval Struggle Continues in U.S.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - George W. Bush maintains a low level of public support in the United States, according to four recent public opinion polls. In a survey by Harris Interactive, 29 per cent of respondents rate the president's performance as positive.
A study by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News places Bush's approval rating at 33 per cent. Polls by Princeton Survey Research Associates for Newsweek, and Opinion Dynamics for Fox News, give bush a 35 per cent approval rating.
Bush—a Republican—earned a second four-year term in the November 2004 presidential election. His numbers in the Harris Interactive and TNS polls represent all-time approval lows.
On May 15, Bush addressed the nation to discuss his immigration proposals. Bush outlined five clear objectives: securing the borders, creating a temporary worker program, holding employers to account for the workers they hire, allowing illegal immigrants "who have roots" in the country to apply for citizenship, and helping newcomers assimilate into American society.
Yesterday in his weekly radio address, Bush discussed his policies, saying, "We will work to ensure that every new citizen fully embraces our common culture. When immigrants assimilate, they will advance in our society, realize their dreams, renew our spirit, and add to the unity of America."
Polling Data
a) How would you rate the job George W. Bush is doing as president—excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor?
May 2006 | Apr. 2006 | Mar. 2006 | |
Positive | 29% | 35% | 36% |
Negative | 71% | 63% | 64% |
Source: Harris Interactive
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,008 American adults, conducted from May 7 to May 10, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
b) Do you approve or disapprove of George W. Bush's performance as president?
May 15 | Apr. 9 | Mar. 5 | Jan. 26 | |
Approve | 33% | 38% | 41% | 42% |
Disapprove | 65% | 60% | 58% | 56% |
Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,103 American adults, conducted from May 11 to May 15, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
c) Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
May 12 | Mar. 17 | Nov. 11 | |
Approve | 35% | 36% | 36% |
Disapprove | 59% | 58% | 58% |
Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Newsweek
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,007 American adults, conducted on May 11 and May 12, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
d) Do you approve or disapprove of how George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
May 18 | May 3 | Apr. 19 | Apr. 5 | |
Approve | 35% | 38% | 33% | 35% |
Disapprove | 56% | 53% | 57% | 53% |
Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 registered American voters, conducted from May 16 to May 18, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.