Poll: U.S. On Wrong Track

Iraq, Economy Named Top Concerns; Bush, Congress Get Low Marks

(CBS) 
PRESIDENT BUSH
President Bush's overall approval rating has changed little since last month: 44 percent of Americans approve of Bush's job as president, and 51 percent disapprove. Mr. Bush's approval rating has been under 50 percent since January of this year, and this is only the third time his disapproval rating has reached 50 percent or higher since he took office.

MR. BUSH'S OVERALL JOB RATING

Approve
Now
44%
3/2005
43%
2/2005
49%
1/2005
49%
6/2004
42%

Disapprove
Now
51%
3/2005
48%
2/2005
44%
1/2005
46%
6/2004
51%

On the issues of the economy and the war in Iraq, Mr. Bush’s ratings are similar to what they were in March. 34 percent now approve of Mr. Bush’s handling of the economy, and 39 percent approve of his handling of Iraq.

Since the attacks of September 11th, Mr. Bush’s handling of terrorism has been his strongest issue. In this poll, just over half of Americans approve of the president’s handling of the campaign against terrorism, down from 61 percent in February.

MR. BUSH’S JOB APPROVALS

Campaign against terrorism
Now 53%
3/2005 —
2/2005 61%

War in Iraq
Now 39%
3/2005 39%
2/2005 45%

The economy
Now 34%
3/2005 36%
2/2005 38%

In addition, seven in 10 Americans express uneasiness about President Bush’s approach to Social Security, which he has attempted to make the hallmark of his second term. More Americans are uneasy about Mr. Bush’s approach to Social Security today than they were in February. Now, just a quarter feels confident that Mr. Bush will make the right decisions regarding the program.

CONFIDENT PRESIDENT BUSH WILL MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY

Confident
Now
25%
2/2005
31%

Uneasy
Now
70%
2/2005
63%