[chargers fan]

I’m not trying to be pessimistic but does anyone know what Bush’s approval ratings were before he was reelected? It seemed like the media was always saying he was below 50. I could be wrong though. Could someone clairify. Either way the GOP needs to have a strong candidate. Just because a candidate does not have a majority approval rating doesn’t mean the voting populace will be willing to try someone new. That seemed the case in 04 when people didn’t want to switch CIC for the ultra liberal Kerry in the middle of things.

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob1.htm

At this time in his first term, Bush was at 59% approval.

Prior to the 2004 election, he was at 48%.

[ilgipper]

Bush did not have low approval ratings. There also was low unemployment and GDP growth during the bulk of his Presidency. The media was committed to pulling him down and lie about both of those for yours. Just as they will double their efforts to prop this guy up despite performance or approval numbers.

[lt.america]

Usually the gold standard for incumbent presidential ratings is 53%, where I think President Bush was at. Additionally, Bush recovered from the recession, we will have to see what state the economy is during Obama’s re-election.

[Soul Seeker]

45%,46%, 47%, 48%, 49%

Bush’s ratings basically fluctuated in the mid to upper 40’s before Nov. ‘04. Essentially he held them high enough that all he need was a couple percent who make up their mind last minute to flip his direction. Which they did. He hadn’t completely alienated conservatives at that time and Kerry energized no one.

It’s way too early to take approval ratings right now and extrapolate what that means for ‘12. His numbers could be at 30% right now and it would mean nothing for ‘12. Their only importance at this time is that they help slow down his agenda in Congress with each decline.