The media's efforts to trumpet a so called rebound in Bush's approval met with some unfortunate resistance....the latest national polls. While the two latests polls do show a slightly higher Bush approval at 37% and 38%, Bush's disapprovals in both are at near record highs.
According to the latest ABC-Washington Post poll, Bush has a 38% approval rating. But alas what about the other 62% of Americans? Well a full 60% of Americans disapprove of Bush's performance. And add to this the fact that "strong disapproval" of Bush performance is at almost 50% (a record high of 48%). That means a hard 50% of Americans are never going to side with Bush again.
Better yet in the ABC/Washington Post poll, voters favor a DEM congressional candidate 52% to 39% over a GOP congressinal candidate.
http://abcnews.go.com/...
The latest CNN/USA Today poll has similiar numbers. Bush's approval actually dips a point to 37% while his disapproval rises three pts to 60%.
http://www.usatoday.com/...
The key point about Bush's approval is its effect on the GOP prospects in the fall congressional and statewide elections. Both the ABC/Washington Post poll and the CNN USA Today poll point to large DEM leads in the congressional ballot. In addition another new poll from Pew Research states DEMS hold a 51% to 39% lead in the congressional ballot.
http://people-press.org/...
And swing voters are really not feeling Dubya at the moment and are showing love to the DEMS.
http://www.gqrr.com/...
Bush is dragging down the GOP nationwide. In my opinion his poor numbers are hurting incumbents like DeWine, Santorum, Chafee, Talent and other big time and are hurting GOP challengers in states like Kennedy in MN, Steele in MD and Kean in NJ. Bush's and (by inevitable linkage) the GOP's low numbers are even playing out in the state elections. For example some of our DEM governors up for re-election would be toast if it weren't Bush abysmmal numbers in their states....Granholm, Doyle, Blagojevich and Kulongski come easily to mind.
So fear not the so called Bush "bounce". It just aint a reality.