Bush's Approval Ratings Stay Low

Poll: 60 Percent Of Americans Think War In Iraq Is Going Badly

(CBS) 
Bush's approval ratings on specific issues are also low, in some cases approaching all-time lows for this President.

Even when it comes to terrorism, the President's strongest issue, approval has dropped 6 points since last month, and now is just above last year's lowest rating of 51 percent on this issue.

BUSH'S JOB APPROVALS

Overall
Approve
42%
Disapprove
51%

Campaign against terrorism
Approve
52%
Disapprove
40%

The economy
Approve
39%
Disapprove
56%

Foreign policy
Approve
39%
Disapprove
51%

War in Iraq
Approve
37%
Disapprove
59%

Handling Social Security
Approve
25%
Disapprove
62%

The President fares worst when it comes to opinion of his handling of Social Security. Despite Bush's months-long promotion of his plan for Social Security, only one in four Americans approves of the way he is handling the issue.

In addition, two in three Americans are uneasy about Bush's approach to Social Security; only 27 percent have confidence in his ability to deal with it. Even some (but not most) Republicans are skeptical. 32 percent of Republicans disapprove of Bush's handling of the issue, and 35 percent are uneasy about his approach.

BUSH'S HANDLING OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Confident
27%
Uneasy
66%

SOCIAL SECURITY: THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN
The American public does see President George W. Bush as having a plan for change -- many more than say his fellow Republicans in Congress or the Democrats do. Although Americans see real trouble for Social Security, they don't show much affinity for Bush's remedies.

In fact, 42 percent say the more they've heard about Bush's proposals, the less they like them. Only 12 percent say that the more they've learned, the more they like Bush's plan.

THE MORE YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT BUSH'S PROPOSALS...

The more you like them
12%
The less you like them
42%
Views haven't changed
34%
Haven't heard about them
7%

Some of the reluctance may be because the stakes are quite high: most Americans -- especially middle-aged and older Americans -- see Bush's proposals as fundamental reforms to the Social Security system, not just minor changes.

BUSH'S SOCIAL SECURITY PROPOSALS ARE...

Fundamental changes
All
51%
18-29
37%
30-44
49%
45-64
58%
64+
57%

Overall support remains lukewarm at best for the cornerstone of the President's plan -- personal investment accounts. 45 percent think it's a good idea while 50 percent think it's a bad idea, about the same levels as this poll found at the start of the President's efforts.

Support for personal Social Security accounts changes depending on the circumstances presented to them. The percentage that thinks such accounts are a good idea increases to 71% if the money in those accounts could be inherited by their children, and to 59% if people could potentially earn more money for retirement. However, the percentage drops to 22% if it would mean guaranteed benefits are reduced by a third, and to just 12% if the government has to borrow as much as $2 trillion dollars to set the program up.


LETTING INDIVIDUALS INVEST SOME SOCIAL SECURITY ON THEIR OWN IS…

A good idea
Now
45%
5/2005
47%
4/2005
45%
2/2005
43%
1/2005
45%

A bad idea
Now
50%
5/2005
47%
4/2005
49%
2/2005
51%
1/2005
50%

The public is doubtful that allowing people to invest their Social Security taxes themselves would do much for the program’s solvency. 36% think permitting these accounts would make the Social Security system’s finances worse, while 25% think the program’s finances would improve. 27% think such accounts would have no impact on Social Security’s solvency.