Bush and Republicans hit new lows in US public opinion
US president George Bush’s approval ratings hit a series of new lows in an associated Press-Ipsos poll that also shows Republicans surrendering their advantage on national security.
“These numbers are scary. We’ve lost every advantage we’ve ever had,” said Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio.
The survey involved 1,003 adults questioned this week for The Associated Press by Ipsos, an international polling firm.
Just 36 per cent of the public approved of Bush’s job performance, his lowest-ever rating in AP-Ipsos polling.
By contrast, the president’s job approval rating was 47 per cent among likely voters just before Election Day 2004 and a whopping 64 per cent among registered voters in October 2002.
Only 40 per cent of the public approved of Bush’s performance on foreign policy and the war on terror. That’s down 9 points from a year ago.
Just 35 per cent of the public approved of Bush’s handling of Iraq, his lowest in AP-Ipsos polling.
By a 49-33 margin, the public favoured Democrats over Republicans when asked which party should control Congress.
That 16-point Democratic advantage is the largest the party has enjoyed in AP-Ipsos polling.
