Growing opposition to Bush re-election
Julian Borger in Washington
Monday August 25, 2003
The Guardian
For the first time, more Americans say they would oppose
President George Bush's re-election in 2004 than support a
second term, according to a poll published yesterday that
showed mounting pessimism over the US military presence in
Iraq.
As attacks on coalition forces continue to inflict casualties, a
Newsweek poll found that the human and economic costs of
occupation were eroding the president's support at an
accelerating rate.
Sixty-nine per cent of those asked were concerned that the US
would be bogged down for many years in Iraq with little to show
for it in improved security for Americans; 49% said they were
very concerned.
At the same time Mr Bush's approval rating dropped to 53%,
down 18% since April, and his lowest rating since before the
September 11 attacks turned him from the victor of a disputed
election presiding over a worsening economy into a wartime
leader.
But the most jarring statistic for the White House looked forward
to the 2004 election. Some 49% of Americans questioned in
yesterday's poll said they did not want him re-elected, against
only 44% prepared to give him a second term. The
corresponding figures in April were 52% backing re-election with
38% opposed.
The change over four months represents a serious haemorrhage
in support, reflecting a combination of long-term but spreading
disenchantment with the president's economic stewardship and
new doubts over where he is taking the country in his
open-ended "war on terror".
In April, 74% of the country supported his handling of the
situation in Iraq. Yesterday that figure was 54%. Americans are
split between those who believe the administration's line that the
invasion has undermined terrorist groups such as al-Qaida
(45%) and those who think the opposite - that it has inspired a
new generation of Islamist radicals to take up arms against
America and its allies.
Despite the increasing doubts over how US troops can be
extricated, a significant majority of Americans, 61%, still believe
the invasion of Iraq was justified, and a slightly smaller majority
would support the maintenance of a significant occupation force
for up to two years.
The impact of the Iraq occupation on Mr Bush's standing has
encouraged Democrats who, voters said yesterday, had the best
approach to stimulating the economy and handling domestic
issues such as health and education, a reversal since the
beginning of the year.
Nine presidential contenders have joined the Democratic primary
contest, with a 10th likely soon - General Wesley Clark, a
former Nato commander.
guardian.co.uk |
