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Bush Approval Drops in Five U.S. Polls
- Fewer Americans are satisfied with George W. Bush, according to a review of five recent public opinion polls. 40 per cent of respondents to a survey conducted by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News approve of the United States president's performance.
Bush's approval rating reaches 39 per cent in a study by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News, 37 per cent in a poll by Gallup for USA Today, 34 per cent in a survey by the New York Times and CBS News, and 33 per cent in a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates released by Newsweek. In each of the five polls, the United States president's rating fell by at least two points.
Bush—a Republican—earned a second four-year term in the November 2004 presidential election. Yesterday in his weekly radio address, Bush discussed the situation with North Korea, saying, "In response to North Korea's provocation, we will seek to increase our defence cooperation with our allies, including cooperation on ballistic missile defence to protect against North Korean aggression, and cooperation to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear or missile technologies."
American voters will renew the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on Nov. 7.
Polling Data
a) Do you approve or disapprove of how George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Oct. 11 | Sept. 27 | Sept. 13 | Aug. 30 | |
Approve | 40% | 42% | 40% | 38% |
Disapprove | 56% | 54% | 49% | 56% |
Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 American likely voters, conducted on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
b) Do you approve or disapprove of George W. Bush's performance as president?
Oct. 8 | Sept. 7 | Aug. 6 | Jun. 25 | |
Approve | 39% | 42% | 40% | 38% |
Disapprove | 60% | 55% | 58% | 60% |
Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,204 American adults, conducted from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
c) Do you approve or disapprove of how George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Oct. 8 | Sept. 17 | Sept. 10 | Aug. 20 | |
Approve | 37% | 44% | 39% | 42% |
Disapprove | 59% | 51% | 56% | 54% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,007 American adults, conducted from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
d) Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Oct. 8 | Sept. 19 | Aug. 21 | Aug. 13 | |
Approve | 34% | 37% | 36% | 36% |
Disapprove | 60% | 56% | 57% | 57% |
Source: The New York Times / CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 983 American adults, conducted from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
e) Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Oct. 6 | Aug. 25 | Aug. 11 | |
Approve | 33% | 36% | 38% |
Disapprove | 59% | 56% | 55% |
Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Newsweek
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,004 American adults, conducted on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.