Polls, polls, and more polls

A second poll in as many days shows a sharp drop in Bush's poll numbers, suggesting his war bounce will be surprisingly short-lived.

EVALUATIONS OF GEORGE W. BUSH

Now
Overall
67%
Handling Iraq
75%
Handling economy
42%

Two weeks ago
Overall
73%
Handling Iraq
79%
Handling economy
46%

Bush receives higher overall job approval ratings from those who think the economy is in good shape or getting better, suggesting that how he handles the economy could have a profound impact on how his presidency is viewed.

It's an interesting poll, demonstrating that things are not all that rosy for Bush:

BUSH’S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY

Approve:
Now
42%
3/23-24
52%
7/2002
44%

Disapprove
Now
45
3/23-24
38%
7/2002
45%

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

In past year:
Better
15%
Worse
45%
Same
39%

Is getting:
Better
19%
Worse
28%
Same
52%

BETTER WAY TO IMPROVE ECONOMY

Tax cuts
32%
Lower deficit
54%

And these numbers comparing Bush II to his father are quite intriguing:

RATING THE ECONOMY

Now
Good
44%
Bad
54%

4/1991
Good
42%
Bad
57%

ECONOMY IS…

Now
Getting better
19%
Getting worse
28%
Staying same
52%

4/1991
Getting better
18%
Getting worse
33%
Staying same
47%

PRESIDENTIAL JOB APPROVAL

George W. Bush
After war was over
67%
During war
71%
Before war began
58%

George H.W. Bush
After war was over
80%
During war
83%
Before war began
62%

So it's clear Bush faces difficulties outside of the Iraqi issue. And given that we're now making a habit out of killing Iraqi protesters, there is no guarantee his Iraq poll numbers will remain high. Indeed, Americans are starting to feel uneasy about the "victory" in Iraq, according to this other CBS News poll.

ARE THE IRAQIS GRATEFUL TO U.S. OR RESENTFUL OF U.S.?

Resentful of U.S. troops in Iraq
Now
26%
Two weeks ago
8%

Grateful/happy Saddam is gone
Now
53%
Two weeks ago
79%

Both
Now
14%
Two weeks ago
8%

U.S. RESPECT IN THE WORLD COMPARED TO ONE YEAR AGO

U.S. is more respected
26%
Respected about the same
29%
U.S. is less respected today
41%

WAS REMOVING SADDAM WORTH THE COSTS?

Yes
Now
62%
Three weeks ago
68%

Posted April 30, 2003 08:00 AM | Comments (83)