New Lows for Bush

Bush is now approaching Nixon in popularity or lack there of.
Bush's Popularity Reaches New Low

For the first time in his presidency a majority of Americans question the integrity of President Bush, and growing doubts about his leadership have left him with record negative ratings on the economy, Iraq and even the war on terrorism, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows.

On almost every key measure of presidential character and performance, the survey found that Bush has never been less popular with the American people. Currently 39 percent approve of the job he is doing as president, while 60 percent disapprove of his performance in office -- the highest level of disapproval ever recorded for Bush in Post-ABC polls.

This has been discussed a great deal and I will try not to duplicate the efforts of those smarter than I. The ever neutral Joe Gandelman asks:

This brings us back to the central question: what can a President DO to reverse this kind of trend?

I think the answer to that question is he can't, thanks to Karl Rove. Most of his support now comes from the Radical Christian Right. They represent at the most 35% of the population and there is evidence that number is shrinking. As we saw with the Miers nomination, if Bush makes even a slight move in the direction of the middle the rabid Christian right will turn on him like like a pack of mad dogs. If he tries to recapture some of the middle he will lose the religious right, his Rovian base.

The second big problem for Bush is the loss of his political capitol most of which was tied up in the misperception by many that he was an honest straight shooter.

The survey found that 40 percent now view him as honest and trustworthy -- a 13 percentage point drop in the past 18 months. Nearly 6 in 10 -- 58 percent -- said they have doubts about Bush's honesty, the first time in his presidency that more than half the country has questioned his personal integrity.

In addition he has lost the war on terror.

Bush has always retained majority support on his handling of the U.S. campaign against terrorism -- until now, when 51 percent have registered disapproval.

As Steve Soto points out the depth of Bush's support has declined, even those who still support him do so with less enthusiasm.

And with all this, it appears that the depth of Bush’s support is now far less than is the opposition to him:

The intensity of Bush's support has changed since his reelection a year ago, with opponents deepening their hostility toward the administration. In the latest survey, 47 percent said they strongly disapprove of the way he was performing in office, compared with 35 percent who expressed strong disapproval in January. At the same time, the percentage who say they strongly approve of his performance has fallen from 33 percent last January to 20 percent today.

Now, here is my question for the day: Does a 13-point shrinkage in the size of the cult represent a politically fatal problem for Bush from this point on?

In what has to be an ill wind for Republicans in general John Zogby notes the following:

Just 18% of respondents under age 25 said they think Mr. Bush is doing a good job.

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