Americans ... Split on Bush's Overall Job Approval Rating (47%)

[Snellius]

Americans remain split on George W. Bush's overall job approval rating while 52% of Americans disapprove of the way Bush is handling the economy according to the latest survey by the American Research Group. Among all Americans, 47% say they approve of the way Bush is handling his job and 47% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 43% of Americans say they approve and 52% say they disapprove.

Among Americans registered to vote, 48% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 48% disapprove. As for Bush's handling of the economy, 44% of registered voters approve and 50% disapprove.
...
When asked if angry, worried, confused, hopeful, or happy best describes how they feel about George W. Bush as president, 48% say angry or worried and 33% say hopeful or happy.
...
When asked what word best describes how they feel about the national economy, 38% say worried, 38% say hopeful, and 12% say angry.
...
A total of 31% of Americans rate the national economy as excellent, very good, or good and 68% rate it as bad, very bad, or terrible.

http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/

[Mountainman]

1. 31% of Americans rate the national economy as excellent

There the ones who got the biggest tax cut.

Rethugs care about one thing and only one thing. "How does it effect my personal wealth building ability."

If the government helps them get richer, all is well.

[alcuno]

3. 31% combined for excellent, very good, or good.

Not 31% excellent. So the Republicans are serving 31% of the electorate. Not good.

[bluestateguy]

2. I hate to say this

but ARG's polls are usually trash. I still remember their election eve poll in 2000 showing Gore up 10 in New Hampshire! Their numbers are only a little off from all the others, but the others polls are showing approval at between 49% and 52%.

[FlemingsGhost]

4. Excuse me for posting this yet again:

Here on in, I suspect Bush will poll at, or just below 50%. This will enable him to squeak out another "very close election." (wink, wink)

The powers that be know that no one will believe a Reagan-esque landslide or even the perception of an irrefutable mandate from the American public, so they need it to be close... in order to work their "magic."

Even if the fight is fixed, you have to give the fans a good show.
(Think "WWF.")

[DUreader]

5. Exactly what I've been saying, too close to call is easy to steal

they may even go for a little come from behind drama

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. America is divided down the middle!!!

In a two way race the Dem's will get 45%-47% of the votes if we end up loosing God Forbid! This is going to be a tight race either way it goes and there will be no Reagan landslide!!!!

....and we will also win these states:

CT
MA
RI
NY
NJ
VT
ME
MI
IA
OR
WA
CA
MD

[Voltaire99]

10. Only a vigorous opposition can shift those numbers

You're right about that fear, I believe, but there's another dimension to this, too.

The 50-50 split eerily reflects the 2000 numbers. Even before the election debacle, before 9/11, before the Patriot Act, before two wars, before the lying and the incompetence, half the country was ready to vote for the idiot man-child from Texas.

Looking at the readjustment this season, it's probably safe to say that the war-shock that made many moderates and right-moderates inflate Bush's numbers has worn off.

But that's still not progress if it merely takes us back to the 2000 numbers. And given Bush's malfeasance and catastrophe, his numbers simply aren't low enough.

I'd say the numbers leave us with largely the same problem that existed three years ago: namely, the failure of the Dems to sufficiently distance themselves from Repugs. That's only been compounded by the relatively easy ride Dems have given Bush as he flops and flops again.

So, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee will split the vote. And that leaves the results open to being Katherine Harrised or worse.

[Democat]

6. Will the media let him fall below 50/50

Even with this poll, he is at 47/47 - will they ever report him having a higher disapproval than approval?

The right wing media loves him so much, it will be very hard for them to admit facts.

[mvd]

8. Nice to see him below 50%

:thumbsup:

[last_texas_dem]

9. How low can he go?

I hope he isn't reaching the bottom of his fall. It seems every week for the last several months, minus the occasional fluke, the Boy-King just keeps dropping lower and lower. This is very good news in my eyes, though. It's good to see the Shrub below 50-percent in any case. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.