Bush gets low marks in poll as he prepares exit
By Megan Thee-Brenan
Published: January 17, 2009
iht.com
President George W. Bush leaves office next week with no evidence that public opinion toward him is softening during his final days in power, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
When asked about Bush's performance over the last eight years, 22 percent of Americans said they approved. That matched Bush's job-approval rating for much of last fall, the lowest marks of his presidency. Seventy-three percent disapproved of his performance in the new poll, slightly higher than the highest figure he registered - in October - over the course of his two terms.
Disapproval cuts across party lines, with Democrats, Independents and even 34 percent of Republicans voicing strong criticism of Bush's performance.
In contrast, Bush's four predecessors left office with approval ratings ranging from 68 percent for both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, to 54 percent for George H.W. Bush. Jimmy Carter had a 44 percent approval rating upon his departure from office.
Just 17 percent of those surveyed rated Bush's presidency as very good or good, while 83 percent said it was average or poor. Fifty-nine percent of Americans regarded Clinton as a very good or good President and 40 percent viewed the senior President Bush the same way.
The public's assessment of Bush's handling of both the economy and the war in Iraq are markedly negative. Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed disapprove of how Bush has managed the nation's economy (surpassing Carter's high of 74 percent) and 71 percent disapprove of his handling of the situation in Iraq.
The nationwide telephone poll was conducted January 11-15 with 1,112 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Bush has the unusual distinction of being the president with both the highest and lowest approval rating - the highest (90 percent) coming shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
The campaign against terrorism is one area in which he continues to win a measure of support from the public, with 47 percent approving of his handling of the issue and 48 percent disapproving. Republicans are particularly supportive of Mr. Bush on the subject of terrorism - 87 percent approve of his administration's actions to fight terrorism.
Still, not only do Americans disapprove of the overall job Bush has done, but record numbers have an unfavorable opinion of him personally. Six in 10 of those surveyed said they view Bush negatively, while just about one-quarter view him favorably. Americans' historic negative assessment of the administration is not limited to the President - Vice President Dick Cheney's approval rating in the new poll is 13 percent, the lowest of his time in office. |
