Posted on 09/20/2006 8:38:38 PM PDT by Jean S
Forty-four percent!
A Gallup Poll, taken Sept. 15-17, finds that President Bush’s job approval rating has soared to 44 percent, the highest since the president virtually touched the sky at 45 percent in September 2005.
Of course, other polls have placed Bush a little lower; the Real Clear Politics average of presidential polls puts him at 40.8 percent.
Still, that beats Bush’s low point of 31 percent in a Gallup Poll last May.
And he’s in good company. Everybody who is anybody in the presidential world has been at 44 percent.
According to Gallup records, Bill Clinton was there a bunch of times — in May and August 1993; in June and September 1994; and then in March, April and September 1995.
George H.W. Bush hit 44 in February 1992.
Ronald Reagan was at 44 in April and June 1982, and in July and August 1983.
Jimmy Carter was at 44 in June 1978.
Gerald Ford was at 44 in April and October 1975.
Richard Nixon was at 44 in May and June 1973.
Lyndon Johnson was at 44 percent in October 1966, June 1967 and December 1968.
Of course, some were on the way up, and some were on the way down. We’ll know more about Bush later.
Whatever the case, it appears his campaigning for Republicans in the House and Senate is beginning to help the GOP cause, not hurt it.
In the new Gallup survey, there are a several results that suggest the war on terror is playing a bigger part in voters’ minds these days. Among people who are likely to vote, terrorism is the second most important issue (after Iraq). That puts it above the economy, health care, and illegal immigration.
And as much as Democrats hate it, in those voters’ minds, Republicans still have a substantial lead when it comes to keeping America safe.
Gallup asked, “What impact do you think this fall’s elections will have on terrorism in the U.S.? Do you think the country will be safer from terrorism if the Republicans keep control of Congress, would be safer from terrorism if the Democrats gain control of Congress, or would it not make a difference either way?” (In its questioning, Gallup rotates mentioning the Republicans or Democrats first.)
Forty-four percent say it wouldn’t make any difference. But 31 percent say the country would be safer if Republicans keep control, and 21 percent say it would be safer if Democrats gain control.
Then Gallup asked, “Would you be more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who supports President Bush on terrorism, more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes President Bush on terrorism, or would that not make much difference to your vote?”
Forty-five percent of likely voters say they will vote for the candidate who supports Bush.
Just 28 percent say they’ll vote for a Bush opponent, and 26 percent say it doesn’t make a difference.
But what about the Democrats’ contention that the war in Iraq is a distraction from the real war on terror, that we need Democratic leadership to bring America home from Iraq?
Well, Gallup also asked, “Would you be more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who supports President Bush on the war in Iraq, more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes President Bush on the war in Iraq, or would that not make much difference to your vote?”
The numbers were extremely close: 39 percent say they’ll vote for a Bush supporter, 40 percent will vote for a Bush opponent, and 20 percent say it doesn’t make a difference.
But that means that even on Iraq — surely the president’s most vulnerable issue — Democrats have no clear lead.
By the way, 67 percent of those polled believe Democrats have no clear plan for what to do in Iraq.
As for their own preferences, they don’t appear to be leaning toward Democrats. Gallup gave respondents four different possibilities for the U.S. in Iraq — withdraw all troops immediately; withdraw all troops by a year from now; withdraw troops, but take as many years as needed to do it; or send more troops.
In the latest poll, 51 percent chose either withdraw, but take as long as necessary, or, send more troops. Forty-eight percent favored withdrawing immediately or within a year.
In July, when Gallup asked the same question, the numbers were quite different. Just 41 percent favored a long withdrawal or more troops. Fifty-five percent favored withdrawing immediately or within a year.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the leaders of the Democrats’ efforts to retake the House and Senate, have made clear they believe Democrats can take Republicans head-on on the issue of national security, arguing that GOP rule has made America less safe.
Certainly they believe that. But if this new poll is correct, with nearly seven weeks left before the election, they haven’t been able to convince most voters.
York is a White House correspondent for National Review. His column appears in The Hill each week. E-mail: byork@nationalreview.com
Good News Bump
Bush and the GOP have the momentum.
The RATS as usual peaked too early.
I will be a little bit richer. : )
The Democrats always seem to peak right before people start thinking seriously about the issues.
I only believe polls to be indicative of movement, not solid numbers, and only if there are multiple polls. I odn't know about you but I have not seen any polls since September 1 that indicate movement towards the Dems.
Those numbers about the democrats not having a plan for Iraq--67%!--and voting for someone who supports Bush's position are just incredible.
I am not an optimist, but I am betting things are getting crazy (crazier) around DNC HQ. I mean, there is just very little for them to work with, and as we near election day, very little for Democrats to say that will encourage people to want them in power.
I think the idea that the Dems will impeach Bush if they get into power is taking fatal root in the minds of the electorate; we just don't wanna go through that again, not now, especially.
When MSM aren't pushing negativism and antiUSA, anti Bush, antiGOP propaganda, confidence and optimism goes up and these numbers show it.
The best poll of all, where real money is down, Iowa Electronic Markets has these quotes:
"Republicans Hold House" 49.1
"Republicans Lose House" 43.5.
The American people are rejecting the RATS' calculated decision to give aid and comfort to Al Qaeda and other muslim fanatics.
That's because the Democrat agenda always collapses with the first gentle puff of critical thought.
Dems could win a permanent majority in Congress of they could just keep a majority of the American public from ever thinking critically.
If President Bush can hold on to the House and Senate, he will be one of the most successful presidents in history. Most presidents lose one or more houses during their terms.
The GOP has the big "MO" now. Chavez and Addendwackajob will help also. They will remind Americans that this world is full of despots and we need strong leaders at the helm of government.
Thats because they always blurt out the punchline first, (expecting laughs), and then tell the joke afterwards
I agree. Their crazy BS helps Bush.
As for the election, Laura Ingraham made an excellent point the other day. She pointed out that with all the attention focused on how much the Republicans have to lose in November, it's being overlooked what an incredibly high-stakes moment this is for the Democrats. Here you have a president with low approval numbers, an unpopular war, allegations of scandal, and a public that's gloomy on the economy. If the Democrats can't win under these conditions, under what conditions can they win? That's the question they'll have to face if they lose.
It really shocks me how so many Americans think the economy is in the tank. We endured 9/11, we are in a war, we endured Katrina, and we have survived high gas prices and continue to prosper in spite of it all.
The polls that show that people generally feel bad about the economy but good about their own situation clearly demonstrate the power of the leftist media in this country to influence a large majority. I expect the media to become more shrill in their anti-Bush diatribe as we get closer to the election.
The Dems are probably going to go with the cut and run plank as the #1 campaign issue this fall. I think it will fail. Thank God.
I think it will fail. Thank God.
Yep, same here. You can feel the momentum shifting (knock on wood). I'm looking forward to November.
Question: Do you own a firearm?
Question: If you own a firearm who are you most likely to vote for?
Question: Do you plan on buying a firearm?
Question: Do you hope your neighbor has a firearm?
Question: Do you hope your neighbor is not muslim with a firearm?
If you answered yes to any of the above, chances are you will vote republican.
Republicans are running into each other and beating each other over the head like loony toon characters all day on Capital Hill, they aren't doing what they should be doing, they look petty and small, etc. Voters think to themselves, "Man, these guys suck! Let's get them out of here!"
When the D's are smart, they say nothing and hope to be elected based on GOP divisions.
However, the Daily Kos wing of the party won't let them be smart. They demand they go ever further left. They demand they bring up pull-out of Iraq at every point, they demand they talk about repealing the tax cuts, etc.
Suddenly, that same guy is thinking, "Hmm...maybe I was too hasty, these guys in charge might be boobs, but they aren't insane! These other guys are insane!"
Asked whether the coming election was about the president, 46 percent said it was not, while 35 percent felt it was a vote against him and 16 percent saw it as a vote for him.
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