Usually there’s something in a national poll the president can find encouraging, but not the latest Gallup numbers. There are plenty of interesting results, but here’s the one Mr. “Restoring Honor and Decency” will find the most disturbing.
A 53% majority say they trust what Bush says less than they trusted previous presidents while they were in office. In a specific comparison with President Clinton, those surveyed by 48%-36% say they trust Bush less.
Bush not only loses to Clinton on the trust issue, he loses by a lot. I think I can hear Karl Rove whimpering from here.
Of course, this wasn’t the only compelling news in the poll. Here’s a sampling of some of the highlights:
* Approval rating — Bush’s job approval rating sank to a record low 37%. Among second-term presidents, only Nixon during Watergate had less support.
* On the issues — For the first time, a plurality disapprove of the way Bush is handling the issue of terrorism. Six in 10 disapprove of the way he’s handling foreign affairs, the economy, Iraq, and immigration.
* The war in Iraq — A record high 60% say going to war in Iraq was “not worth it.” In a finding consistent with previous polls, 54% say it was “a mistake” to send troops there.
* Bush and 2006 — Fewer than one in 10 adults say they would prefer a congressional candidate who is a Republican and who agrees with Bush on most major issues.
This has to be as low as Bush’s support can drop, right?
