POLL ANALYSES
July 16, 2001
Bush Job Approval at 57%
Up five points over past week and a half, but at "average" for year
by David W. Moore
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- According to the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, the American public generally approves of President George W. Bush's performance in office, both in general and on most of the specific issues measured in the poll. The poll was conducted last week, July 10-11, and the results give little support to recent commentary suggesting the president is in serious trouble with the American people.
While Bush's approval rating did fall to 52% at the end of June and has rebounded to 57% in the current poll, the basic trend has remained fairly stable since he assumed office. The June rating is the lowest Bush has received, but it was only one point lower than two of his other ratings -- one at the end of March, and another at the beginning of May. Overall, his ratings have fluctuated within an 11-point range, between 52% and 63%, averaging 57% since the first measurement last February -- the exact level where it is now. The average job approval ratings in May and June were 55% and 54%, respectively, down slightly from averages of 59%, 58% and 61% in February, March and April. By way of contrast, the job approval ratings of Bush’s immediate predecessor, Bill Clinton, fell more than 20 points from late January to early June in his first year in office.
George W. Bush’s Job Approval Rating
The poll also shows that a clear plurality, if not majority, of Americans approve of Bush's handling of most of the issues measured, with divided feelings expressed on the rest of the issues. For the most part, these views reflect few differences from those expressed in earlier polls, contributing to the picture of a president who has not gone through a major crisis with the public, but rather a president who has maintained a fairly steady base of support.
Americans express their greatest level of approval on Bush's handling of education and taxes, two issues where Bush has focused some of his most intensive legislative efforts. The tax cut has already been passed and signed into law, and the education bill appears likely to be enacted into law sometime this summer. Bush also receives high marks for the economy and foreign affairs, suggesting that uncertain predictions about the health of the economy have not taken a toll on his support, and that the public views his overseas diplomatic efforts positively.
gallup.com |
