Poll: Katrina Response Inadequate

Public Says Response To Katrina Too Slow; Confidence In Bush Drops

(CBS)  Now, just 48 percent of Americans say Bush has strong qualities of leadership -- the lowest number ever for the President in this poll. A year ago, as he was campaigning for re-election, 64 percent of voters said Bush was a strong leader. And in the weeks after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, 83 percent of Americans said the President had strong qualities of leadership.

DOES BUSH HAVE STRONG QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP?

Yes
Now
48%
9/2004*
64%
9/2001
83%

No
Now
49%
9/2004*
34%
9/2001
14%

*among registered voters

Moreover, just 32 percent express “a lot” of confidence in the President’s ability to handle a crisis. This is a sharp change from four years ago when, in the weeks after the 9/11 attacks, 66 percent expressed “a lot” of confidence in Bush’s ability to handle a crisis.

CONFIDENCE IN BUSH’S HANDLING OF A CRISIS

Now
A lot
32%
Some
19%
A little
25%
None
23%

9/2001
A lot
66%
Some
24%
A little
7%
None
2%

This drop in ratings for Bush reflects greatly lowered views of his management, and somewhat lessened views of his compassion. Asked if Bush cares about the needs and problems of people like them, 55 percent of Americans say he does, and 43 percent say he doesn't -- these views have changed a bit from February 2004, when 62 percent said he cared and 38 percent said he did not. And 51 percent today say Bush cares at least somewhat about the needs and problems of blacks, specifically; 46 percent say he doesn't. Two years ago, 59 percent said he cared about blacks and 34 percent said he did not.

HOW MUCH DOES BUSH CARE ABOUT NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF…

People Like You
A lot/some
Now
55%
2/2004
62%

Not much/none
Now
43%
2/2004
38%

Black People
A lot/some
Now
51%
9/2003
59%

Not much/none
Now
46%
9/2003
34%

Despite the fallout from Hurricane Katrina, Bush’s overall approval rating is virtually unchanged from last week. Now, 42 percent of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing as President, while 52 percent disapprove.

The President’s rating on the war in Iraq has also changed little: 35 percent approve of the job he is doing. 51 percent now approve of the job Bush is doing handling terrorism; last week 54 percent approved.

BUSH JOB APPROVAL

Overall
Now
42%
Last week
41%
July
45%

Terrorism
Now
51%
Last week
54%
July
55%

IraqNow
35%
Last week
38%
July
41%

This week, as last week, men are more likely to approve of Bush's overall job performance than are women. 47 percent of men approve; 37 percent of women approve.