As with every poll released in the last couple of months, if there’s good news in the latest USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll for the Bush White House, it’s hiding very well.
* Approval rating — Bush’s approval rating remains at 48%, which is exactly where it was a month ago. The percentage of poll respondents who disapprove is up to 49%, up slightly from the first week in April.
* The issues — Americans disapprove of Bush’s handling of just about everything, including foreign affairs (45-49), the economy (43-53), Iraq (42-55), Social Security (35-58), and energy policy (34-52).
* Social Security — Not only is support for Bush’s handling of Social Security down, Americans also oppose private accounts (44-52), oppose cutting benefits (38-54), and trust Dems more than Republicans on the issue (46-36). Perhaps most importantly, when poll respondents were asked how they’d like to see Social Security’s long-term future ensured, they chose raising taxes to cutting benefits, 53% to 38%. In other words, Americans support the opposite of Bush’s approach.
* Judicial nominees — A clear majority supports use of the filibuster against judicial nominees (52-40), while in the overall fight, people say they generally favor the Dems over the Republicans (45-36).
* Religious Right — The number of people who believe the “Christian conservative movement” has too much influence over Republicans continues to grow. A month ago, 39% said the religious right had too much sway over the GOP, while 33% said the movement had the right amount of influence. Now, 43% say it has too much influence, while 28% say it has the right amount.
The news isn’t all good for Dems — the public, for example, isn’t crazy about how either party is handling their jobs in Congress — but on the whole, this is the kind of poll that offers Republicans practically no good news or signs of encouragement.
Now, if only the midterm elections weren’t 18 months away….