Bush’s approval rating sinks

WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush’s approval rating sank to an all-time low of 45 per cent, in a Washington Post-ABC poll published yesterday that also said he could do more to ease soaring petrol prices.

The August 25-28 survey of 1 006 adults with a three percent margin of error found that 53 percent of Americans disapproved of how Bush was handling his job as president. Only 45 per cent approved of his performance, the lowest approval rating ever recorded for Bush in the Post-ABC survey since he took office in January 2001.Besides his job in Iraq, which 42 per cent approved and 57 per cent did not, the rising petrol prices were also to blame for Bush’s loss in popularity.By a margin of 73-22 per cent, people disapproved of Bush’s handling of the petrol crisis, while 60 per cent said there were steps he could take to reduce fuel prices, which are headed higher still after Hurricane Katrina’s damage to southern US refineries.Only 36 per cent said petrol prices were not his fault.Bush also received negative ratings for his handling of immigration (57 per cent disapproved, 33 per cent approved), the economy (54-44 per cent) and social security (52-40 per cent).Only the president’s job in fighting terrorism met with the majority’s approval, 56 per cent against 43 per cent who disapproved.- Nampa-AFPOnly 45 per cent approved of his performance, the lowest approval rating ever recorded for Bush in the Post-ABC survey since he took office in January 2001.Besides his job in Iraq, which 42 per cent approved and 57 per cent did not, the rising petrol prices were also to blame for Bush’s loss in popularity.By a margin of 73-22 per cent, people disapproved of Bush’s handling of the petrol crisis, while 60 per cent said there were steps he could take to reduce fuel prices, which are headed higher still after Hurricane Katrina’s damage to southern US refineries.Only 36 per cent said petrol prices were not his fault.Bush also received negative ratings for his handling of immigration (57 per cent disapproved, 33 per cent approved), the economy (54-44 per cent) and social security (52-40 per cent).Only the president’s job in fighting terrorism met with the majority’s approval, 56 per cent against 43 per cent who disapproved.- Nampa-AFP