December 25, 2004

Abstract: (Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - George W. Bush has lost public backing since his re-election, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 49 per cent of respondents approve of the president's performance, a six per cent drop since mid-November.

(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - George W. Bush has lost public backing since his re-election, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 49 per cent of respondents approve of the president's performance, a six per cent drop since mid-November.

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.

On Dec. 20, Bush referred to Russian president Vladimir Putin's controversial bill that effectively eliminates the election of Russia's 89 governors by popular vote. Bush said he personally "issued a statement that said in a free society, in a society based upon Western values, we believe in the proper balance of power." The American president added that he would continue with "joint efforts (with Putin) when it comes to sharing intelligence to fight terrorism."

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?

	Dec. 17-19	Dec. 5-8	Nov. 19-21
Approve	49%	53%	55%
Disapprove	46%	44%	42%

Source: Gallup / CNN / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,002 American adults, conducted from Dec. 17 to Dec. 19, 2004. Margin of error is 3 per cent.