Bush's popularity rises
2005-12-09 00:18
Washington - The latest New York Times/CBS poll shows an increase in the approval rating of US President George W Bush, although the majority of Americans still express doubts about his handling of the war in Iraq.
Bush's approval rating rose to 40% - up from an all-time low of 35%.
The poll shows 53% of voters disapproving of Bush's performance as president - down from 57% a month ago.
The survey was conducted from December 2 to December 6, and the results published on the New York times website on Wednesday.
With petrol prices on the decline and figures showing the US economy growing at a healthy pace, the poll found that 56% of voters now describe the national economy as good - 47% said the same thing a month ago.
On the Iraqi war, 52% said the Bush administration intentionally misled the public when it made the case for war.
A majority want a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, and 28% favour a complete pull-out.
The poll found 68% of voters still did not believe the US president had "a clear plan for victory in Iraq".
If mid-term US legislative elections, due in a year, were held today, 42% of registered voters said they would support the Democratic Party candidate. Only 33% said they would choose the Republican candidate.
Bush's Republican Party currently holds a majority in the US congress.
The telephone poll of 1 155 adults across the US has a margin of error of three percentage points.
Another poll, commissioned by Fox television a week before the New York Times/CBS poll, also shows Bush's rating climbing back up several points.