Between the battle over Iraq policy that is beginning on the Senate floor and the confrontation over executive privilege that appears headed toward the courts, there has never been a moment in his presidency when George Bush so badly needed public confidence and goodwill. Instead, along comes the new USA Today/Gallup poll, showing his approval rating at a record low 29%, down four percentage points from just a month ago. (Fuller results here.)
Slippage is particularly pronounced among Republicans.
Susan Page notes:
Bush now has had both the highest approval rating in Gallup’s history — 90% in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks — and one of the lowest. Among modern presidents, only Richard Nixon, Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter ever had a lower rating.
Gallup offers historical perspective in this analysis.