PRINCETON, NJ --
Bush's approval rating has dropped to an all time low of 45%, according to the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, and a 7 point drop in one week. This is the lowest such rating Bush has received since taking office.
His previous low was 46% in May 2004, during the emergence of the Abu Ghraib Scandal.
In the prior Gallup survey, conducted last week, Bush's job approval rating was 52%. The timing of the seven-point drop suggests that the controversy over the Terri Schiavo case may be a major cause.
Also the public was more dissatisfied than satisfied with the country's direction by a margin of 21 points; 59% dissatisfied to 38% satisfied - a 14 point increase in the margin of dissatisfaction compared to last month's survey.
More Below the Fold
Pew Research Center
CBS News/New York Times
The new poll found the largest drop for Bush came among men, self-described conservatives and churchgoers.
Gallup's Tuesday-night poll shows a majority of Americans disapprove of the way Bush has handled the Schiavo situation.
"You have to wonder if people didn't feel that the president and the Congress couldn't be spending their time working on Social Security and other problems," said Charlie Cook, editor of the non-partisan Cook Political Report.
"Any politician pushing a Social Security privatization plan that cuts benefits and increases the national debt by $4.3 trillion would see his or her approval ratings tumble," said Josh Earnest, Democratic National Committe spokesman.
Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,001 national adults, conducted March 21-23, 2005.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/content/?ci=15373
Man, would I like to see the look on the faces of Fineman, Borger, and their craven, ass-kissin' Ilk when they see these numbers
