Bush's Job Approval Lowest Since 9/11: Poll

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Bush's Job Approval Lowest Since 9/11: Poll

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U.S. President Bush's job approval rating has dropped below 60% for the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows, amid rising concern about a sluggish economy and the prospect of conflict with Iraq and DPRK.

The drop in Bush's rating, to 58%, comes at a critical point in his presidency. He is nearing the midpoint of his term and poised to order an invasion of Iraq. Leading Democrats are deciding whether to seek the nomination against him in 2004, a judgment based in part on how vulnerable he seems.

The sense that his standing is beginning to erode could have a more immediate effect, making it more difficult for him to win victories in Congress on everything from judicial nominations to tax cuts, including his new 10-year, $674 billion economic package.

It also could embolden Democratic critics who were demoralized by the strong GOP showing in the November elections.

To be sure, 58% is still a healthy rating, higher than that for Presidents Carter, Reagan and Clinton at the beginning of their third years in office.

Just before the attacks on New York and Washington, Bush's job approval was at 51%, the lowest of his tenure. In the weeks afterwards, it rose to 90%, a record for presidents in the Gallup Poll.

The poll of 1,002 adults, conducted Friday through Sunday, has a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points.

Source: Agencies

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