March 26, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for George W. Bush fell in the United States, according to two recent public opinion polls. 32 per cent of respondents to an American Research Group survey approve of the president's performance, down seven points since February.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for George W. Bush fell in the United States, according to two recent public opinion polls. 32 per cent of respondents to an American Research Group survey approve of the president's performance, down seven points since February.

In a study by SRBI Public Affairs released by Time, the American head of state also holds a 32 per cent approval rating. Bush—a Republican—earned a second four-year term in the November 2004 presidential election.

In December 2006, seven U.S. attorneys and an Arkansas prosecutor received a dismissal notification by the Justice Department. Six of these eight attorneys had positive internal performance records. Democrats in Congress contend that the firings were politically motivated.

In his Mar. 24 radio address, Bush discussed the situation, saying, "I strongly support the attorney general in this decision. I also appreciate the hard work and service of the U.S. attorneys who resigned. And I regret that their resignations have turned into a public spectacle. (...) Members of Congress now face a choice: whether they will waste time and provoke an unnecessary confrontation, or whether they will join us in working to do the people's business."

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

a) Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

	Mar. 2007	Feb. 2007	Jan. 2007	Dec. 2006
Approve	32%	39%	34%	35%
Disapprove	63%	56%	62%	61%

Source: American Research Group
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,100 American adults, conducted from Mar. 18 to Mar. 21, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

b) Do you approve or disapprove of George W. Bush's performance as president?

	Mar. 2007	Feb. 2007	Jan. 2007	Oct. 2006
Approve	32%	34%	37%	36%
Disapprove	61%	60%	59%	57%

Source: Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas (SRBI) Public Affairs / Time
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,500 registered American voters, conducted from Mar. 9 to Mar. 12, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.