Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Hussein Boosts Bush’s Numbers

December 19, 2003

(CPOD) Dec. 19, 2003 - The capture of Saddam Hussein benefited George W. Bush's numbers in the United States, according to a poll by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal. On Dec. 13, 52 per cent of respondents approved of the president's performance. The next day, after the deposed Iraqi leader was detained, the number changed to 58 per cent.

Coalition soldiers captured Hussein in Adwar --near his hometown of Tikrit-- on Dec. 13. The deposed leader was found in a camouflaged, ventilated "spider hole."

Several questions remain regarding Hussein's possible trial. Bush suggested the deposed leader should face the "ultimate penalty" if convicted of war crimes, but United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan claimed the world organization "does not support the death penalty."

Polling Data

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

Dec. 13

Dec. 14

Approve

52%

58%

Disapprove

41%

35%


Source: NBC News / Wall Street Journal
Methodology: Interviews to 522 American adults, conducted on Dec. 13, 2003; and 512 American adults, conducted on Dec. 14, 2003. Combined margin of error is 4.3 per cent.

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