GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- Much of the buzz surrounding President Bush's five-nation European tour this week concerns his reportedly poor image overseas, and indeed a Gallup survey conducted in the United Kingdom in April found only 26% of the British hold a favorable view of Bush while 51% view him unfavorably. This contrasts sharply with Americans' view of their own president -- 62% view him favorably -- as well as with former President Clinton's positive image among the British. Gallup's spring survey in the UK found 56% holding a favorable view of Bill Clinton, with only 39% harboring an unfavorable view.
| Image Comparison |
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These contrasts seem symptomatic of Bush's larger image problem throughout Europe, but Americans' perceptions of Bush as a world leader are similar to their perceptions of Bill Clinton in the early stages of his presidency. According to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted June 8-10, a majority of Americans, 56%, think Bush does a good job of representing the United States to the world. Only 39% disagree and just 5% are unsure. At a similar point in Clinton's presidency -- in June 1993 -- 61% of Americans felt he did a good job representing the U.S. abroad while 36% felt he did a bad job.
"Our Presidents Get No Respect"
Despite the fact that a majority thinks Bush does a good job representing the country abroad, Americans are skeptical about how foreign leaders perceive him. Today, just 40% of Americans think leaders of other countries around the world respect George W. Bush while 46% think they "don't have much respect for him."
At first glance this might suggest that the widely publicized skepticism of Bush among European leaders has Americans worried. However, a comparison of Bush with his predecessor on this measure shows that Clinton, too, was perceived to have image problems abroad. In 1994, only 41% of Americans felt Clinton was respected internationally and 55% felt he was not.
Perhaps these more critical initial assessments -- at least relative to other evaluations such as job approval -- reflect the fact that both men entered the presidency from the position of state governors with little foreign policy experience. Or, it may be that Americans more generally don't think that any U.S. president receives the respect he deserves from foreign leaders. (Indeed, when this same question was asked about Clinton near the end of his term, the public was still negative about how he was viewed abroad -- although that also could be attributed to his troubles over the Monica Lewinsky matter.)
| Do Foreign Leaders Respect the U.S. President? |
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Pro-Kyoto Outcry May Have Registered With Some Americans
Bush's first presidential visit to Europe started in Spain yesterday and will take him to Belgium, Sweden, Poland and Slovenia later this week. Among the long list of European complaints about Bush's policies is his rejection in March of the international Kyoto global warming treaty -- after which there was a major outcry from European leaders, media, and environmental groups. There is some evidence in the new poll that the United States public has registered this criticism. The percentage of Americans saying Bush is respected abroad fell from 49% in February to 40% in the most recent survey. Whereas in February, a plurality of Americans (49% vs. 38%) felt Bush was respected abroad, the plurality now believes he is not respected (46% vs. 40%).
Americans Approve of Bush's Job Performance Nevertheless
While the public may have taken some note of the negative international reaction to Bush's Kyoto decision, they do not generally share it. Just as 56% say that Bush does a good job of representing American interests abroad, a majority, 55%, also currently approve of the job Bush is doing as president -- not far off the high point of 63% recorded in early March. Similarly, 54% of Americans think Bush has the leadership qualities it takes to be president; 42% disagree.
On the specific issue of the Kyoto treaty that calls for country-specific limits on carbon dioxide emissions and other gases that are believed to contribute to global warming, Americans are closely divided. According to a Gallup poll conducted in April, 48% of Americans disapprove of Bush's decision to reject this treaty while 41% approve of his decision.
| Bush Job Approval in U.S. |
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Public Affirms Western Europe's Geopolitical Importance
While European criticism may make this week a difficult one for Bush and his team, the American public supports the efforts Bush is making to improve ties with foreign leaders and improve his image abroad. Most Americans consider U.S. ties with Western Europe to be important, with 47% saying the U.S. should strengthen these ties and another 31% saying they should be maintained as they are; only 13% want to see them reduced.
Survey Methods
The results reported here are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,011 adults, 18 years and older, conducted June 8-10, 2001. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
Next, we'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of this person -- or if you have never heard of him. How about – [RANDOM ORDER]?
A. George W. Bush
|
Favor-able |
Un- |
Never heard of |
No |
Favor-able |
Un- |
Never heard of |
No |
|||
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |||
|
2001 |
(NA) 2000 Aug 18-19 |
60 |
34 |
* |
6 |
|||||
|
(NA) 2001 Jun 8-10 |
62 |
36 |
* |
2 |
(NA) 2000 Aug 4-5 |
67 |
28 |
* |
5 |
|
|
(NA) 2000 Jul 25-26 |
63 |
31 |
* |
6 |
||||||
|
(NA) 2001 Apr 20-22 |
65 |
32 |
0 |
3 |
(NA) 2000 Jul 14-16 |
64 |
29 |
* |
7 |
|
|
(NA) 2001 Mar 9-11 |
63 |
32 |
0 |
5 |
(NA) 2000 Jun 23-25 |
60 |
31 |
0 |
9 |
|
|
(NA) 2001 Mar 5-7 |
69 |
28 |
* |
3 |
(NA) 2000 Jun 6-7 |
64 |
29 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
(NA) 2001 Feb 19-21 |
67 |
27 |
* |
6 |
(NA) 2000 Apr 28-30 |
61 |
33 |
* |
6 |
|
|
(NA) 2001 Feb 1-4 |
64 |
33 |
* |
3 |
(NA) 2000 Mar 10-12 |
63 |
32 |
* |
5 |
|
|
(NA) 2001 Jan 15-16 |
62 |
36 |
* |
2 |
(NA) 2000 Feb 25-27 |
57 |
35 |
1 |
7 |
|
|
(NA) 2000 Feb 20-21 |
58 |
35 |
* |
7 |
||||||
|
2000 |
(NA) 2000 Feb 4-6 |
63 |
31 |
0 |
6 |
|||||
|
(NA) 2000 Dec 15-17 |
59 |
36 |
1 |
4 |
(NA) 2000 Jan 17-19 |
66 |
26 |
* |
8 |
|
|
(NA) 2000 Dec 2-4 |
56 |
40 |
* |
4 |
1999 |
|||||
|
(NA) 2000 Nov 13-15 |
53 |
43 |
* |
4 |
(NA) 1999 Dec 9-12 |
68 |
25 |
1 |
6 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Nov 13-15 |
54 |
43 |
* |
3 |
(NA) 1999 Oct 21-24 |
71 |
21 |
1 |
7 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Nov 4-5 |
55 |
39 |
* |
6 |
(NA) 1999 Oct 8-10 |
70 |
25 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Oct 24-26 |
62 |
33 |
* |
5 |
(NA) 1999 Sep 23-26 |
71 |
22 |
1 |
6 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Oct 23-25 |
60 |
35 |
* |
5 |
(NA) 1999 Aug 16-18 |
68 |
21 |
1 |
10 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Oct 20-22 |
59 |
37 |
* |
4 |
(NA) 1999 Jun 25-27 |
69 |
16 |
4 |
11 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Oct 5-7 |
58 |
36 |
* |
6 |
(NA) 1999 Apr 13-14 |
73 |
15 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Sep 28-30 |
55 |
38 |
0 |
7 |
(NA) 1999 Feb 19-21 |
69 |
12 |
5 |
14 |
|
|
(RV) 2000 Sep 15-17 |
51 |
41 |
1 |
7 |
Please tell me whether you agree or disagree that George W. Bush has the personality and leadership qualities a president should have.
|
Agree |
Disagree |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
National Adults |
|||
|
(NA) 2001 Jun 8-10 |
54 |
42 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2000 Aug 18-19 |
64 |
32 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2000 Aug 11-12 |
65 |
28 |
7 |
|
(NA) 2000 Aug 4-5 |
70 |
26 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2000 Jul 25-26 |
62 |
32 |
6 |
|
(NA) 2000 Apr 7-9 |
61 |
30 |
9 |
|
(NA) 2000 Jan 17-19 |
65 |
28 |
7 |
|
Registered Voters |
|||
|
(RV) 2001 Jun 8-10 |
54 |
42 |
4 |
|
(RV) 2000 Oct 20-22 |
57 |
39 |
4 |
|
(RV) 2000 Sep 28-30 |
56 |
38 |
6 |
|
(RV) 2000 Sep 8-10 |
57 |
37 |
6 |
|
(RV) 2000 Sep 7-9 |
58 |
35 |
7 |
|
(RV) 2000 Aug 18-19 |
64 |
32 |
4 |
|
(RV) 2000 Aug 11-12 |
66 |
27 |
7 |
|
(RV) 2000 Aug 4-5 |
71 |
25 |
4 |
|
(RV) 2000 Jul 25-26 |
62 |
32 |
6 |
|
(RV) 2000 Apr 7-9 |
62 |
30 |
8 |
|
(RV) 2000 Jan 17-19 |
65 |
29 |
6 |
|
2000 WORDING: Please tell me whether you agree or disagree that [ROTATE: Al Gore/George Bush] has the personality and leadership qualities a president should have. How about…? |
|||
Do you think George W. Bush does a good job representing America to the world, or not?
BASED ON -- 504 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.
|
Yes, does good job |
No, does not |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
George W. Bush |
|||
|
(NA) 2001 Jun 8-10 |
56 |
39 |
5 |
|
Bill Clinton Trend |
|||
|
(NA) 1998 Aug 21-23 ^ |
54 |
44 |
2 |
|
(NA) 1998 Mar 20-22 |
64 |
34 |
2 |
|
(NA) 1994 Jan 6-8 |
64 |
34 |
2 |
|
(NA) 1993 Jun 29-30 |
61 |
36 |
3 |
|
^ Asked of half sample |
|||
|
Bill Clinton trend asked in list of other characteristics |
|||
Do you think leaders of other countries around the world have respect for George W. Bush, or do you think they don't have much respect for him?
BASED ON -- 507 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±5 PCT. PTS.
|
Respect |
Don't have much respect for him |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
George W. Bush |
|||
|
2001 Jun 8-10 |
40 |
46 |
14 |
|
2001 Feb 1-4 |
49 |
38 |
13 |
|
Bill Clinton Trend |
|||
|
2000 May 18-21 |
44 |
51 |
5 |
|
1994 Sep 23-25 |
41 |
55 |
5 |
What do you think will be best for the United States in the long run -- [ROTATED: to strengthen our ties with Western Europe, to continue our relations with Western Europe about as they are now, or to reduce our ties with Western Europe]?
|
Strengthen ties |
Continue as now |
Reduce our ties |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2001 Jun 8-10 |
47 |
31 |
13 |
9 |
|
1987 Nov 6-Dec 4 |
53 |
31 |
11 |
5 |
* Less than 0.5%
(NA) National Adults
(RV) Registered Voters
