Congratulations, Mr. President, you've fulfilled the driving urge of your life and beaten your father at something.
Specifically, according to the latest Newsweek poll, you're now more unpopular than he ever was. Bravo! Well done! Your mother must be proud!
The gist of the story is in the first paragraph:
It’s hard to say which is worse news for Republicans: that George W. Bush now has the worst approval rating of an American president in a generation, or that he seems to be dragging every ’08 Republican presidential candidate down with him. But According to the new NEWSWEEK Poll, the public’s approval of Bush has sunk to 28 percent, an all-time low for this president in our poll, and a point lower than Gallup recorded for his father at Bush Sr.’s nadir. The last president to be this unpopular was Jimmy Carter who also scored a 28 percent approval in 1979. This remarkably low rating seems to be casting a dark shadow over the GOP’s chances for victory in ’08. The NEWSWEEK Poll finds each of the leading Democratic contenders beating the Republican frontrunners in head-to-head matchups.
OK, lets break this down:
- George is historically unpopular. 28 percent is nearing Nixonian levels.
- Worse than his dad, who was at the 'spat at by ladies in the street' level by the time he left office.
- This is spilling onto every GOP candidate for 08, such that all of the Democrats beat all of the Republicans in head-to-heads.
As far as Iraq goes, the "President as petulant child" idea seems to be taking hold:
And nearly two out of three Americans (62 percent) believe his recent actions in Iraq show he is “stubborn and unwilling to admit his mistakes,” compared to 30 percent who say Bush’s actions demonstrate that he is “willing to take political risks to do what’s right.”
The head-to-head numbers:
Obama beats the leading Republicans by larger margins than any other Democrat: besting Giuliani 50 to 43 percent, among registered voters; beating McCain 52 to 39 percent, and defeating Romney 58 percent to 29 percent.
Like Obama, Edwards defeats the Republicans by larger margins than Clinton does: the former Democratic vice-presidential nominee outdistances Giuliani by six points, McCain by 10 and Romney by 37, the largest lead in any of the head-to-head matchups. Meanwhile, Sen. Clinton wins 49 percent to 46 percent against Giuliani, well within the poll’s margin of error; 50 to 44 against McCain; and 57 to 35 against Romney.
So, on average Obama beats the GOP field by something like 13 points, Edwards by 18 points (skewed by the massive crush-Romney result), and Clinton by 10. Take Romney out of all three of those equations, and it tightens considerably, but the only head-to-head result within the margin of error is Clinton-Giuliani. I for one don't believe that Rudolph will make it through the primaries, or if he does, it will be as damaged goods. See his "Roe is OK" performance at the debate for a good reason why.
There's also stuff in the story about the relative status of the primary campaigns; no real shockers there, so I'll let you read that on your own. The take-away message, though, is that George Bush's massive unpopularity is dragging down the entire Republican party and brand-name. And given that George Bush is, well, George Bush, he's not going to change his ways any time now. Things are going to get worse for the GOP before they get better.
-dms