October 26, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in the United States believe George W. Bush will not be an effective leader in the last two years of his mandate, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates published in Newsweek. 56 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. president will not be able to get much done for the rest of his second term.

- Many adults in the United States believe George W. Bush will not be an effective leader in the last two years of his mandate, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates published in Newsweek. 56 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. president will not be able to get much done for the rest of his second term.

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Bush—a Republican—earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states.

Yesterday, Bush discussed his plans for the remainder of his presidency, saying, "First, I haven't given up on any of those issues (Social Security reform, a tax code overhaul, and a comprehensive immigration bill). I've got two years left to achieve them. And I firmly believe it is more likely to achieve those three objectives with a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican-controlled Senate. And I believe I'll be working with a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican-controlled Senate."

American voters will renew the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on Nov. 7.

Polling Data

As you may know, the Constitution prevents George W. Bush from running for a third term in 2008. Do you think Bush can be an effective president during his last two years in office, or that he won't be able to get much done for the rest of his second term?

Can be effective	33%
Won't be able to get much done	56%
Don't know	11%

Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Newsweek
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.