Silver Lining in Polls for Bush: They Still Blame Clinton

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Recent Newsweek poll numbers show Bush support sliding in many categories:

  • Kerry now leads the president in a two-way trial heat by seven points (50 percent to 43 percent)
  • Just 36 percent say they are satisfied with “the way things are going in this country”; 59 percent say they are dissatisfied
  • 48% view Bush favorably, down four points over last month. Kerry’s ratings remain unchanged at 51% favorable.
  • 55% disapprove of Bush’s handling of the economy versus 41% approving
  • 51% disapprove of Bush’s handling of Iraq 44% approving
  • 59% approve of his handling of terrorism and homeland security; down from 70% earlier this year.
  • 46% (up from 39% in January) say they are either “not too” or “not at all” confident that the United States will ever be able to bring democracy to Iraq
  • 40% are very concerned that Iraq will become “another Vietnam”
  • 42% percent concerned that by invading Iraq, the Bush administration has increased the risk that large numbers of people will be killed or injured in a future terrorist attack on the United States (up from 28% at the end of the last year)

Other numbers are more encouraging for the incumbent:

  • 57% remain confident that the Bush administration did the right thing in going to Iraq
  • 63% would support sending more troops if necessary.

But if the President is looking for something in here to really cheer him up, it would have to be

  • 24% of Americans hold the Clinton administration responsible for the 9/11 attacks compared with the 18% who feel Bush’s team was to blame

Now if only he was running against Clinton (more than just rhetorically, I mean).

5 thoughts on “Silver Lining in Polls for Bush: They Still Blame Clinton”

  1. 63% would support sending more troops if necessary.
    And I wonder how many of those 63% don’t have loved ones that will be sent out to fight?

  3. I don’t hold Clinton responsible. I just think that if you’re going to hold Bush responsible, holding Clinton completely free of responsibility on the same topic is an awfully convenient and inconsistent position.

  4. As they should Edward, given what the WH knew and what was accomplished in the 1996 White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security. If the public had the whole story put together for them, Clinton’s numbers would be in the 60s.

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