Bush popularity keeps sliding

2005-06-17 13:16

Washington - President George W Bush's popularity has slid to one of the lowest levels of his presidency, as the number of Americans who think they should have stayed out of Iraq grows to more than 50%, a New York Times/CBS News poll said on Friday.

Bush's approval rating among the 1 111 adults surveyed June 10-15 dropped to 42%, just one point higher than his lowest rating in May 2004. His disapproval rating was 51%, also one point lower than May 2004.

Fifty-nine percent disapproved of how Bush was handling the situation in Iraq, the highest negative rating since the war began. The president's handling of foreign policy met with disapproval by 51%, which one point higher than last month but four points lower than in July 2004.

Fifty-one percent thought the United States should have stayed out of Iraq, up two points from one month ago but matching the level of July 2004, while 45% believed it was right to wage war on Iraq, up two points from a month ago.

The New York Times/CBS News poll had a margin of error of three percentage points.

A separate poll conducted by Harris Interactive also found Bush's ratings had slumped: 55% disapproved of his job performance, just one point lower from April when it was at its highest; 45% thought he did a good job, up one point from April, its lowest level.

The Harris poll of 1 015 adults surveyed June 7-12 - with a margin of error of two points - also found vice-president Dick Cheney's disapproval rating (56%) higher than his approval rating (38%).

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld fared a little better with a 53% disapproval rating and a 42% approval rating.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice fared best of all with only a 41% disapproval rating, as 52% thought she was doing a good job.

- AFP