Bush Reaches New Lows on Ratings of Terrorism, Energy

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll, conducted April 10-13, 2006 finds little change in President George W. Bush's overall job approval ratings, with 36% of Americans saying they approve and 59% saying they disapprove. The current 36% approval ties for the lowest of Bush's entire administration. Overall, Bush's job approval ratings have been extremely steady since February, ranging between 36% and 38% across the five most recent polls.

In a separate USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted April 7-9, 2006, 45% of Americans said they approve of the way Bush is handling terrorism, the lowest rating on terrorism of his entire presidency. Terrorism still remains Bush's strongest issue of the six tested in the poll, while Americans are most negative on his handling of the situation in Iraq (32%), healthcare policy (30%), energy policy (29%), and immigration (29%). The president's energy policy ratings are also at a new low, but by only one point; Bush's current Iraq rating ties for the lowest of his administration.

Terrorism. The current 45% approval rating for Bush's handling of terrorism is the lowest of his administration and continues the gradual decline in these ratings from the 52% rating recorded at the start of the year. His current approval rating is nearly half his highest on terrorism (86%), last recorded in March 2002. Significantly, for the first time in his presidency, a majority (51%) disapprove of Bush's handling of terrorism.

Energy policy. The public's assessment of Bush on energy policy also reached a new low in the latest poll, but only by one percentage point. Bush had a 30% rating on this issue in early February 2006, as compared to his current 29% approval rating. Bush's ratings on energy have fluctuated significantly over the years, but his ratings so far this year are more negative than at any other point in his administration.

The situation in Iraq. Twice as many Americans disapprove (65%) as approve (32%) of Bush's handling of Iraq. The latest approval rating on Iraq has declined from 39% at the start of the year, and ties for the lowest of Bush's administration, which occurred in mid September 2005.

Immigration. Bush's current approval rating on immigration (29%) is similar to what he has averaged since the start of 2005 (28%), when it was first measured. His high mark on this issue was 34% approval in January 2005 and his low was 25% in January 2006.

The economy. Thirty-nine percent of Americans say they approve of the way Bush is handling the economy right now. Unlike his ratings on the other issues, which have shown some decay over the course of this year, Bush's economic approval ratings have steadily stayed around 40%.

Healthcare policy. Bush's ratings for his handling of healthcare have hovered around 30% since last August, and are among the worst of his presidency. His approval on healthcare policy dipped below 30% in early February 2006 but has since returned to 30% in the last two polls.

Partisan Views of Bush

The latest poll finds that 74% of Republicans approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president, compared with 26% of independents and 11% of Democrats.

Republicans' average rating of Bush so far this year is 81%, so that his current Republican approval rating of 74% is a drop from recent levels. The 74% is in fact the lowest approval rating among Republicans so far in his administration. By comparison, Bush job approval ratings among independents and Democrats are little different than his average among these groups so far this year.

Of the six issues tested last week, a majority of Republicans are positive about Bush's performance on all of them, except on immigration. Democrats are widely critical, with no more than 20% approving of Bush on any issue. Independents' assessments of Bush fall much closer to Democrats' than to Republicans'.

All three partisan groups rate Bush highest on terrorism, but there are significant differences among the groups -- 80% of Republicans, 41% of independents, and only 20% of Democrats approve of Bush's handling of this issue. Republicans and Democrats differ significantly on all of the issues, with the largest gap (a 66-point difference in approval) occurring on Iraq and the smallest gap (31 points) on immigration.

Survey Methods

Results of the poll conducted April 10-13, 2006 are based on telephone interviews with 1,005 national adults, aged 18 and older. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error due to sampling and other random effects is ±3 percentage points.

Results of the poll conducted April 7-9, 2006 are based on telephone interviews with 1,004 national adults, aged 18 and older. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error due to sampling and other random effects is ±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.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

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

The economy

The situation in Iraq

Terrorism

Healthcare policy

Immigration

Energy policy