The detail behind the numbers may tell a different story.
For example, in today's IBD, page 7,
" 65% of Americans blame Bush policies for the weak job market"
"Three-fourths of Americans (74%) still say it is very difficult or somewhat difficult to get a job these days in their neighborhood"
" 150,000 jobs is well below the administration's predictions. The president's Council of Economic Advisors said in February the White House's 'Jobs and Growth Plan' would create 5.5 million jobs by the end of 2004. That would be 306,000 new jobs each month, starting in July 2003 when the plan went into effect.
November's 57,000 new jobs fell 249,000 jobs short of the plan"
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That 65% "blame Bush" number includes a goodly percentage of Republicans who are otherwise giving Bush a pass on the wearying war on terror, so far.
The polls don't measure the depth of conviction very well. The level of anger is phenomenal. I suspect the opposition is a bit more entrenched in their position.
There are also Repubs becoming angry at administration policies, who could be part of the 90% because they think Bush is doing as well as can be expected, but blame his advisors. If so, they are swing, not base voters.
IMO |
