Bush approval rating in decline, poll suggests
President Bush's approval rating dropped to its lowest point since he took office, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released yesterday, which suggested that Bush was facing his strongest challenge from the newest Democratic presidential candidate, retired Army General Wesley K. Clark.
The nationwide survey of 1,003 people suggested that 50 percent approved of Bush's job performance, compared with 71 percent in April and 59 percent in August, according to CNN.com.
Of the 877 registered voters surveyed, 49 percent said they would vote for Clark, compared with 46 percent for Bush.
Four other Democratic candidates were also in statistical ties with Bush, with Kerry leading the president 48 percent to 47 percent, Dean trailing Bush 46 percent to 49 percent, Gephardt trailing Bush 46 percent to 48 percent, and Lieberman trailing the president 47 percent to 48 percent. The poll surveyed 1,003 people nationwide by telephone between Friday and Sunday and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The poll also indicated that Clark was leading his Democratic rivals among registered Democrats or Democratic leaners with 22 percent, compared with 13 percent for former Vermont governor Howard Dean, 11 percent for Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts and Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, and 10 percent for Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut.
Republicans downplayed the poll yesterday, noting that Presidents Reagan and Clinton trailed in polls at points before their reelection bids, but won handily. "We've always planned for a close election, and this is further confirmation that we're a divided country," said Republican National Committee spokesman Jim Dyke. "So we continue to plan accordingly."
Said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan, "There'll be a lot of polls between now and next November, and the American people want a leader who is acting decisively to address America's highest priorities, which are waging the war on terrorism and ensuring economic security, and that's exactly the leadership that President Bush is providing."
Yesterday's poll was the second this week to suggest that Bush's approval ratings are slipping, and Clark's star is rising in the Democratic field. A Newsweek poll conducted Sept. 18-19 suggested Bush's approval rating was at 51 percent, and Clark leading the Democratic field.
