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Americans losing faith in Bush: poll

Washington / AFP
07/15/2005

A majority of Americans give President George W. Bush low marks for being "honest and straightforward," but they agree with him in considering Iraq as the front line in the war against terrorism, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll published Thursday.

Bush's approval rating in the poll was at 45 percent, down one point from May, while his disapproval rating went up two points to 49 percent. Most disapprove of how Bush is handling the economy, foreign policy and Iraq.

And for the first time in his presidency, the poll said, more people (45 percent) gave him poor ratings for being "honest and straightforward" than high ratings (41 percent).

Nonetheless, by a 57 to 42 percent margin, Americans agree with Bush in maintaining US military and economic commitment in Iraq until it can govern and control itself.

And by a greater margin, 61 to 34 percent, Americans agree with Bush's assertion that the war in Iraq is part of the broader war against terrorism.

However, Iraq (23 percent) and the US economy (19 percent) rate higher than terrorism (17 percent) as to what the 1,009 adults surveyed July 8 to 11 feel the top concern of their government should be.

In other issues, 73 percent opposed China 's purchase bid for US oil concern Unocal, and 65 percent said the US Supreme Court - one of whose nine members has resigned - should not overturn abortion rights.

The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, also found that by a margin of 45 to 38 percent, Americans would like to see the Republicans lose control of Congress in the 2006 elections.