Public Rates Bush Highly on Terrorism, Defense Issues

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ – The most recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows Americans give President George W. Bush high marks for his handling of international issues, but lower scores on domestic policy matters. Bush, whose overall job approval rating stands at 79%, gets generally favorably ratings from the public on all issues. On only three of the 17 issues tested in the March 22-24 poll does he receive less than majority approval, and on no issue do more disapprove than approve of his performance.

On five separate international issues, Bush receives in excess of 70% approval—U.S. military action abroad to fight terrorism (86%), efforts to prevent future terrorism in the U.S. (86%), national defense (80%), the situation in the Middle East (72%) and foreign affairs (71%). These five are the highest for Bush of the 17 issues tested. Bush receives 57% approval on nuclear weapons policy, the only foreign policy issue on which he scores less than 70%.

In the domestic arena, Bush gets his highest marks for his handling of the economy, of which 65% of Americans approve. Greater than six in 10 Americans also approve of Bush's handling of taxes (64%) and education (63%).

Bush's lowest marks are for his handling of Social Security (47%), campaign finance (48%) and abortion (49%), the only three issues on which less than a majority approve of Bush, although even in these three cases more Americans approve than disapprove. Bush receives bare majority approval on three other domestic issues—the federal budget (51%), health care policy (52%) and the environment (53%). Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they approve of the way Bush is handling energy and also unemployment.

BUSH APROVAL ON ISSUES

*2002 Mar 22-24* (sorted by "approve")	Approve	Disapprove
	%	%
U.S military action abroad to fight terrorism	86	12
Efforts to prevent future terrorism in the U.S.	86	12
National defense	80	15
The situation in the Middle East	72	23
Foreign affairs	71	22
The economy	65	29
Taxes	64	29
Education	63	26
Nuclear weapons policy	57	26
Unemployment	57	29
Energy	57	29
The environment	53	36
Health care policy	52	37
The federal budget	51	37
Abortion	49	29
Campaign finance	48	33
Social Security	47	40

Bush Ratings on Foreign Affairs Slipping

At 71%, Bush's foreign affairs approval rating, though still high, is lower than it was in late January (83%) and early March (78%). Bush's foreign affairs approval rating, like many of his ratings, spiked after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

George W. Bush's Job of Handling Foreign Affairs

At the same time, Bush's approval ratings on his efforts to fight terrorism abroad and to prevent terrorism in the United States have not changed since last November, when 87% and 85% approved, respectively.

Ratings of Bush's handling of the economy (currently at 65%) have also changed little this year, with four readings ranging from 64% to 66%. However, Bush did receive an economic approval rating as high as 72% in October of 2001.

George W. Bush's Job of Handling the Economy

Most Bush Issue Scores Improved Following Sept. 11

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks contributed to increased public trust in government officials and more positive ratings of the president. Thus, many of Bush's issue approval ratings are substantially higher now than when Gallup last asked a comprehensive list of issues in July 2001. Double-digit increases in approval ratings are evident on several issues, not all of which are directly related to the war on terrorism: national defense, foreign affairs (even taking into account the recent decline), energy, the economy, campaign finance and unemployment.

However, on several issues there has been very little change over time. For example, approval of Bush's handling of education is at 63%, precisely where it was when this was last measured in July 2001. Similarly, Bush's 47% approval rating on Social Security is essentially unchanged from a 49% rating last July, as are ratings of his handling the federal budget.

CHANGE IN BUSH APPROVAL RATINGS ON SEVERAL ISSUES, BEFORE AND AFTER SEPT. 11

Issue	Pre-Sept. 11 Reading	Date of Pre-Sept. 11 Reading	Current reading	Change

National defense	59	May 2001	80	+21
Foreign affairs	54	July 2001	71	+17
Energy	45	July 2001	57	+12
The economy	54	July 2001	65	+11
Campaign Finance	37	July 2001	48	+11
Unemployment	47	April 2001	57	+10
Environment	46	July 2001	53	+7
Abortion	43	April 2001	49	+6
Taxes	60	July 2001	64	+4
Education	63	July 2001	63	0
Federal Budget	52	April 2001	51	-1
Social Security	49	July 2001	47	-2

Survey Methods

These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,011 adults, 18 years and older, conducted March 22-24, 2002. 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.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- [ROTATED]?

The economy

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
	%	%	%
(NA) 2002 Mar 22-24	65	29	6

(NA) 2002 Mar 1-3	64	31	5
(NA) 2002 Feb 4-6	66	30	4
(NA) 2002 Jan 25-27	64	30	6
(NA) 2001 Nov 2-4 ^	71	24	5
(NA) 2001 Oct 5-6	72	23	5
(NA) 2001 Jul 10-11	54	36	10
(NA) 2001 May 18-20	51	41	8
(NA) 2001 Apr 20-22 ^	55	38	7
(NA) 2001 Mar 9-11	55	32	13
(NA) 2001 Feb 1-4	53	27	20

^ Asked of half sample.

Foreign affairs

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
	%	%	%
(NA) 2002 Mar 22-24	71	22	7

(NA) 2002 Mar 1-3	78	17	5
(NA) 2002 Feb 4-6	79	16	5
(NA) 2002 Jan 25-27	83	14	3
(NA) 2001 Oct 5-6	81	14	5
(NA) 2001 Jul 10-11	54	33	13
(NA) 2001 May 18-20	55	35	10
(NA) 2001 Apr 20-22 ^	56	31	13
(NA) 2001 Mar 9-11	52	27	21
(NA) 2001 Feb 1-4	46	21	33

^ Asked of half sample.

U.S. military action abroad to fight terrorism

BASED ON -- 510 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±3 PCT. PTS.

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
	%	%	%
2002 Mar 22-24	86	12	2

2001 Nov 2-4 ^	87	10	3

^ Asked of half sample.

Campaign finance