January 12, 2005

Abstract: (Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - George W. Bush regained some public support in the United States at the start of the year, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 52 per cent of respondents approve of the president's performance, a three per cent increase since December.

(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - George W. Bush regained some public support in the United States at the start of the year, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 52 per cent of respondents approve of the president's performance, a three per cent increase since December.

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. On Nov. 2, Republican incumbent Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states.

Yesterday, Bush nominated federal appeals court judge Michael Chertoff as the country's new homeland security secretary. In December, former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik asked the White House to withdraw his name for consideration for the position. Kerik apparently employed an illegal immigrant and failed to pay taxes on her behalf.

Bush will be sworn in for his second four-year term on Jan. 20.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of how George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

	Jan. 7-9	Dec. 17-19	Dec. 5-8
Approve	52%	49%	53%
Disapprove	44%	46%	44%

Source: Gallup / CNN / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,008 American adults, conducted from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.