The latest polls show President Bush’s national standing slipping, with job approval at a new low. About 38 percent approve of his job performance, while 56 percent disapprove.
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press also reported that its most recent survey shows public satisfaction with conditions in the nation is now about 29 percent.
The story of decline becomes more apparent just beneath the surface of the numbers.
The Pew polling specialists asked people about the impact Bush has had on government. He has made things worse, according to 41 percent; 21 percent said he has made things better.
There is a predictable split in opinion between Republicans and Democrats on some important issues, with about 8 in 10 Republicans saying the president has improved national security, for example. Only 24 percent of Democrats feel the same.
Just over half of Republicans believe Bush has improved morality in America, a vague description to be sure, but one that has been a target of aggressive polling for the past few years; 10 percent of Democrats say Bush has improved morality.
Bush’s trouble with his own party becomes more apparent on other questions about whether various aspects of life in America have improved.
Less than half of Republicans say Bush has improved public education, the tax system and America’s relations with its allies. Republican opinion of Bush is even more striking on race relations, where only 33 percent of GOP members cite an improvement; 29 percent on health care; 24 percent on Social Security; 19 percent on the gap between rich and poor; and just 12 percent of Republicans say Bush has made things better on the federal budget deficit.
It may be no consolation to the White House, but the survey showed both political parties are losing ground in Congress.
Pew specialists questioned 1,500 adults in their poll between Oct. 6 and 10. The margin of error in a poll of that size is plus or minus 3 percentage points.